System and method for determining an orthodontic diagnostic analysis of a patient

ABSTRACT

A system and a method for determining an orthodontic diagnostic analysis of a patient at various dental maturity stages predicts future conditions and/or treatment recommendations. The system and the method locate points in a mouth of a patient using an imaging device wherein the imaging device generates imaging data. The imaging data is transferred to a central processing unit wherein the central processing unit has access to a database having information associated with orthodontic conditions stored therein. The central processing unit obtains measurements associated with selected points and dentition in the mouth of the patient and predicts orthodontic conditions of the patient based upon the measurements and the information in the database. The central processing unit recommends treatments to the patient based upon the predicted orthodontic conditions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an orthodontic assessment of a patient.More specifically, the present invention relates to a system and amethod for determining an orthodontic diagnostic analysis of a patientat various dental maturity stages with predictions of future conditionsand/or treatment recommendations.

It is generally known to provide dental care to a patient. Typically,the patient may seek care from a professional at an office visit. Theprofessional may be, for example, a dentist, an orthodontist or othertype of oral health care provider. The professional may examine thepatient using various techniques. Such techniques may be imaging and/orx-raying the oral area and/or the jaws. After reaching a diagnosis, theprofessional may then provide the patient with an oral appliance tocorrect the condition of the patient. In addition to the oral appliance,the professional may provide the patient with instructions for exercisesto perform while wearing the oral appliance. The exercises may cause,for example, the teeth to move toward a corrected position and mayassist in correcting a malocclusion.

Diagnostic decisions may often be made by a single look at the patientby the professional. The professional may estimate what may be presentin the dentition of the patient. The examination may not entail a deeperand/or more detailed study. However, the thoroughness of the examinationmay seriously impact the future of the patient. For example, theindividual deciding the best alternative for a patient may have littleunderstanding of how future development of the various problems mayinfluence the outcome of the future health of a patient. Severalanalytical procedures that may be significant may seldom be used to makea diagnosis for a patient. The patient may ultimately suffer as aresult. A typical example may be an arch-length analysis. Thearch-length measurement may accurately predict if sufficient room may beavailable to straighten crowded teeth and/or rotated teeth. However, thearch-length analysis may be time consuming for the professional. As aresult, some arch-length analyses may provide an inaccurate assessment.

Another important consideration in the assessment of the dental healthof the patient may be the age of the patient. For example, dentalmaturity may be generally categorized into five age groups of which fourgroups may be segregated according to dental maturity stages. The fourstages may be the full deciduous dentition from about two years of ageor three years of age up to about five and one-half years of age or sixyears of age. The permanent lower incisors may begin to erupt at aboutfive and one-half years of age to six and one-half years of age. Theperiod during which the adult incisors may begin and finish their fulleruption may be at about seven years of age or eight years of age may becalled the transitional period. The next dental maturity stage may becalled the mixed-dentition period when the other permanent teeth, suchas, for example, canines, first premolars, second premolars and thepermanent second molars may erupt into place. This period may last fromabout eight years of age to twelve years of age. The next dentalmaturity stage may be the adult dentition where twenty-eight permanentteeth may be fully erupted and where jaw growth may still be active upto about eighteen years of age in a female and about twenty years of agein a male. The final dental maturity stage may be during the adultdentition after most of the jaw growth may be complete. Although bothmales and females grow slightly after this period, this minimal growthis not generally important for orthodontic treatment.

Most orthodontics may be done during the late mixed stage and the earlyadult dentition from about eleven years of age to thirteen years of age.Some orthodontics may be done during the mixed dentition after thepermanent upper and lower permanent incisors may be erupted.Orthodontics are infrequently used before or during the eruption of theadult incisors. Performing orthodontics during the transitional eruptionperiod may have the advantage that the teeth may be aligned before thecollagenous fibers may be formed. The orthodontics may minimize relapsetendencies and may lessen the length of treatment to about twenty percent of the average time consumed for fixed orthodontics for patients ofeleven years of age to thirteen years of age.

Treatment with fixed and/or removable appliances during the transitionalperiod on patients of six years of age to eight years of age and earlieron patients of two years of age to six years of age may be beneficial inmalocclusion treatment. The early period with patients of two years ofage to six years of age may be recommended for sleep-disorderedbreathing problems. The treatment may either advance the mandible andtongue or may prevent the lower jaw from displacing posteriorly whilesleeping. The treatment may teach the patient to breathe through thenose instead of the mouth which may correct the snoring and may improvethe behavioral symptoms caused by breathing problems.

Child patients that may have a prominent mandible may be helped at ayoung age by treatment to slow adverse changes that may occur during thegrowing years. Further types of correction that may improve breathingmay entail improving abnormal swallowing, correcting anterior openbites, correcting a narrowed maxilla and improving speech problems. Suchearly problems may have significant effects on the future health andwell-being of the patient.

In general dentistry, oral surgery, maxillofacial surgery and/ororthodontics, malocclusions may be assessed clinically orradiographically using cephalometrics. One such common condition of amalocclusion may be overbite, in which the top teeth and/or the lowerteeth of the patient do not align properly. Cephalometric analysis maybe the most accurate way of determining types of malocclusions, sincesuch analysis may include assessments of skeletal body, occlusal planeangulation, facial height, soft tissue assessment and anterior dentalangulation. Various calculations and assessments of the information in acephalometric radiograph may allow the clinician to objectivelydetermine dental relationships and/or skeletal relationships anddetermine a plan of correction.

If a non-surgical alternative may produce results comparable with thosethat may be achieved surgically, then the professional may considerand/or may suggest such a non-surgical approach to the patient. In somecases, a non-surgical approach may be the preferred choice of theprofessional and/or the patient.

For example, facial growth modification may be an effective method ofresolving skeletal Class III jaw discrepancies in growing children.Dentofacial orthopedic appliances may be used. Orthognathic surgery inconjunction with orthodontic care may be required for the correction ofmalocclusions in an adult patient.

A need, therefore, exists for a system and a method for determining anorthodontic diagnostic analysis of a patient at various dental maturitystages with predictions of future conditions and/or treatmentrecommendations. A need also exists for a system and a method that mayuse a computer for determining an orthodontic diagnostic analysis of apatient at various dental maturity stages with predictions of futureconditions and/or treatment recommendations. A need also exists for asystem and a method for determining an orthodontic diagnostic analysisof a patient at various dental maturity stages with predictions offuture conditions and/or treatment recommendations that may use an oralappliance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an orthodontic assessment of a patient.More specifically, the present invention relates to a system and amethod for determining an orthodontic diagnostic analysis of a patientat various dental maturity stages with predictions of future conditionsand/or treatment recommendations.

To this end, in an embodiment of the present invention, a system isprovided. The system has an imaging component configured to locatelandmarks in a mouth of a patient. The imaging component locates thelandmarks and generates imaging data of the landmarks. A centralprocessing unit has access to a database with information associatedwith orthodontic conditions. The central processing unit receives theimaging data from the imaging component and generates measurementsassociated with landmarks and dentition in the mouth of the patient. Thecentral processing unit predicts orthodontic conditions of the patientbased upon the measurements and the information in the database andrecommends treatments to the patient based upon the predictedorthodontic conditions.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a method is provided.Diagnostic programs associated with characteristics of developingdentition of a patient are provided. An initial assessment of thepatient corresponding to the developing dentition of the patient isperformed. The initial assessment uses an imaging device to locatepoints in a mouth of the patient and generates imaging data. The imagingdata is transferred to a central processing unit which obtainsmeasurements associated with selected points in the mouth of the patientand predicts future orthodontic conditions of the patient based upon themeasurements. A report of findings of the initial assessment is providedto the patient with treatment recommendations based upon the findings.

In yet another embodiment of the present invention, a further method isprovided. Points in a mouth of a patient are located with an imagingdevice. The imaging device locates the points and generates imaging dataof the points in the mouth. The imaging data is transferred to a centralprocessing unit which has access to a database having informationassociated with orthodontic conditions. The central processing unitgenerates measurements associated with selected points and dentition inthe mouth of the patient using the imaging data. The central processingunit predicts orthodontic conditions of the patient based upon themeasurements and the information in the database. Treatments arerecommended to the patient based upon the predicted orthodonticconditions which are based on the imaging data and the information inthe database.

It is, therefore, an advantage of the present invention to provide asystem and a method for determining an orthodontic diagnostic analysisof a patient.

Another advantage of the present invention is to provide a system and amethod for determining an orthodontic diagnostic analysis of a patientwhich may provide a diagnostic analysis of orthodontic and associatedproblems for a patient from two years of age through adulthood.

Yet another advantage of the present invention is to provide a systemand a method for determining an orthodontic diagnostic analysis of thepatient which may provide measurements of the dentition of the patientthat may be repeated to determine the progress achieved duringtreatment.

Another advantage of the present invention is to provide a system and amethod for determining an orthodontic diagnostic analysis of a patientwhich may provide a level of unbiased accuracy of measurements on whichinsurance providers may rely.

An advantage of the present invention is to provide a system and amethod for determining an orthodontic diagnostic analysis of a patientwhich may provide the incidence of each symptom to educate a patientand/or a parent of the patient as to the relative frequency of theparticular symptom.

Still another advantage of the present invention is to provide a systemand a method for determining an orthodontic diagnostic analysis of apatient which may provide information about a future risk that a symptommay remain abnormal at a future time in the life of the patient, suchas, for example, at twelve years of age or eighteen years of age.

A further advantage of the present invention is to provide a system anda method for determining an orthodontic diagnostic analysis of a patientwhich may provide a prediction of an amount of the measured symptom thatmay be expected in the future.

Moreover, an advantage of the present invention is to provide a systemand a method for determining an orthodontic diagnostic analysis of apatient which may provide treatment recommendations whether the certainproblems should be corrected at a certain time.

Further, an advantage of the present invention is to provide a systemand a method for determining an orthodontic diagnostic analysis of apatient which may allow a parent to make an informed conclusion onwhether treatment for his or her child may be appropriate.

A further advantage of the present invention is to provide a system anda method for determining an orthodontic diagnostic analysis of a patientwhich may provide an estimate of the future stability of the correctedproblem and/or an expected relapse of the result.

Another advantage of the present invention is to provide a system and amethod for determining an orthodontic diagnostic analysis of a patientwhich may require the professional to answer each question required bythe system and the method using a computer program and as a result mayrequire the professional to check several symptoms that may not havepreviously been considered.

Moreover, an advantage of the present invention is to provide a systemand a method for determining an orthodontic diagnostic analysis of apatient wherein the system and the method may use a computer to identifypoints required for a diagnosis.

Another advantage of the present invention is to provide a system and amethod for determining an orthodontic diagnostic analysis of a patientwhich may provide the patient with a diagnosis similar to a secondopinion.

A further advantage of the present invention is to provide a system anda method for determining an orthodontic diagnostic analysis of a patientwherein parameters of treatment may be altered to suit variousorthodontic philosophies.

Another advantage of the present invention is to provide a system and amethod for determining an orthodontic diagnostic analysis of a patientwherein various appliance philosophies may be altered to suit thepreference of the professional responsible for the treatment.

Yet another advantage of the present invention is to provide a systemand a method for determining an orthodontic diagnostic analysis of apatient which may use a computer program to accomplish a diagnosis in ashort time period and/or in an efficient manner.

Still further, an advantage of the present invention is to provide asystem and a method for determining an orthodontic diagnostic analysisof a patient which may use a computer program to consider variousdiagnoses for specific ages and dental development.

Still another advantage of the present invention is to provide a systemand a method for determining an orthodontic diagnostic analysis of apatient which may use a computer program to predict future conditionsand/or diagnoses for specific ages and/or dental development.

Also, an advantage of the present invention is to provide a system and amethod for determining an orthodontic diagnostic analysis of a patientwhich may use a computer program to consider various arch measurementsand/or dental measurements that change with growth and/or developmentand/or accommodate these changes into the diagnosis.

Another advantage of the present invention is to provide a system and amethod for determining an orthodontic diagnostic analysis of a patientwhich may use a computer program to determine the circumferential archwhere the permanent upper incisors have an excessive overjet and beforeany upper permanent incisors erupt.

A further advantage of the present invention is to provide a system anda method for determining an orthodontic diagnostic analysis of a patientwhich may use a computer program to predict the sizes of the permanentteeth prior to their appearance into the mouth by utilizing statisticalcorrelations and/or multiplication factors.

Another advantage of the present invention is to provide a system and amethod for determining an orthodontic diagnostic analysis of a patientwhich may use a computer to predict tooth sizes and/or actual sizecalculations of the erupted tooth widths to inform the professional ofthe correct size of a performed appliance.

Yet another advantage of the present invention is to provide a systemand a method for determining an orthodontic diagnostic analysis of apatient which may use a computer to determine whether gum tissue mayhave receded from a tooth and/or the amount of recession and mayreplicate the measurement to determine damage during treatment.

Still further, an advantage of the present invention is to provide asystem and a method for determining an orthodontic diagnostic analysisof a patient which may use a computer to determine if the gingivaltissue is swollen and/or inflamed by a color analysis of the gingivaltissue.

An advantage of the present invention is to provide a system and amethod for determining an orthodontic diagnostic analysis of a patientwhich may use a computer to determine if any root resorption may bepresent and/or may be occurring during treatment.

Yet another advantage of the present invention is to provide a systemand a method for determining an orthodontic diagnostic analysis of apatient which may use a computer to estimate the severity of a gummysmile and may predict if the gummy smile may be corrected.

An advantage of the present invention is to provide a system and amethod for determining an orthodontic diagnostic analysis of a patientwhich may use a computer to determine the future of a profile of thepatient.

Also, an advantage of the present invention is to provide a system and amethod for determining an orthodontic diagnostic analysis of a patientwhich may use a computer program to provide pictures of similarmalocclusions to the patient to indicate what a malocclusion may looklike in the future if no treatment may be initiated.

Still another advantage of the present invention is to provide a systemand a method for determining an orthodontic diagnostic analysis of apatient which may be more complete than what may typically be done bypersonal observation of the patient

A further advantage of the present invention is to provide a system anda method for determining an orthodontic diagnostic analysis of a patientwhich may provide objective measurements and/or data to the patient.

Yet another advantage of the present invention is to provide a systemand a method for determining an orthodontic diagnostic analysis of apatient of based upon an age range of the patient.

An advantage of the present invention is to provide a system and amethod for determining an orthodontic diagnostic analysis of a patientof a person while permanent teeth and/or deciduous teeth may be presentand/or erupting in the mouth.

A further advantage of the present invention is to provide a system anda method for determining an orthodontic diagnostic analysis of a patientby guiding the erupting teeth into a desired position in the mouth.

Yet another advantage of the present invention is to provide a systemand a method for determining an orthodontic diagnostic analysis of apatient which may be repeated at time intervals, for example, everythree months, to verify if a patient may be experiencing progress tocontinue to obtain a desired result at the end of treatment.

Still further, an advantage of the present invention is to provide asystem and a method for determining an orthodontic diagnostic analysisof a patient which may eliminate and/or reduce additional x-rayradiation exposure of the patient.

An advantage of the present invention is to provide a system and amethod for determining an orthodontic diagnostic analysis of a patientwhich may eliminate potential discomfort of taking impressions for studymodels.

Further, an advantage of the present invention is to provide a systemand a method for determining an orthodontic diagnostic analysis of apatient which may eliminate wasteful and/or unnecessary records and/orexaminations for specific developmental stages of the dentition.

Moreover, an advantage of the present invention is to provide a systemand a method for determining an orthodontic diagnostic analysis of apatient which may provide appliances of various sizes to correctmalocclusions and straighten the teeth at various ages in the deciduous,mixed and/or adult dentitions and either prevent problems fromdeveloping and/or correcting the same problems.

Still further, an advantage of the present invention is to provide asystem and a method for determining an orthodontic diagnostic analysisof a patient which may control the eruption of teeth and/or depresscertain teeth to correct the malocclusion.

Yet another advantage of the present invention is to provide a systemand a method for determining an orthodontic diagnostic analysis of apatient which may straighten the teeth to avoid braces and/or othertypes of orthodontics.

Additional features and advantages of the present invention aredescribed in, and will be apparent from, the detailed description of thepresently preferred embodiments and from the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of a system inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a flowchart of an embodiment of a method inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic diagram of a dentition chart in anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic diagram of another dentition chart in anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates a chart for use in an embodiment of a method inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates a chart for use in an embodiment of a method inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 7 illustrates a chart for use in an embodiment of a method inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 8 illustrates a chart for use in an embodiment of a method inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 9 illustrates a chart for use in an embodiment of a method inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 10 illustrates a chart for use in an embodiment of a method inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 11 illustrates a chart for use in an embodiment of a method inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 12 illustrates a chart for use in an embodiment of a method inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 13 illustrates a chart for use in an embodiment of a method inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 14 illustrates a chart for use in an embodiment of a method inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 15 illustrates a chart for use in an embodiment of a method inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 16 illustrates a chart for use in an embodiment of a method inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 17 illustrates a chart for use in an embodiment of a method inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 18 illustrates a chart for use in an embodiment of a method inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 19 illustrates a chart for use in an embodiment of a method inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 20 illustrates a chart for use in an embodiment of a method inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 21 illustrates a chart for use in an embodiment of a method inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 22 illustrates a chart for use in an embodiment of a method inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 23 illustrates a chart for use in an embodiment of a method inaccordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention relates to an orthodontic assessment of a patient.More specifically, the present invention relates to a system and amethod for determining an orthodontic diagnostic analysis of a patientat various dental maturity stages with predictions of future conditionsand/or treatment recommendations.

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals represent like parts,FIG. 1 illustrates a system 10 in an embodiment of the presentinvention. The system 10 may be used for diagnosing the orthodonticneeds and requirements of the patient. The system 10 may be useful inassisting orthodontic practitioners. Also, the system 10 may permit adiagnosis of the dentition and/or conditions of the patient. The system10 may provide instructions to the user.

In an embodiment, the system 10 may use a computer to perform certainparts of the assessment. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,582,225 entitled“Dental diagnosis and dispensing apparatus and a system and a method forproviding same” issued on Jun. 24, 2003 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,882,192entitled “Computerized orthodontic diagnosis and appliance dispenser”issued on Mar. 16, 1999 disclose using a computer in a dental diagnosis.Applicant of the present application is common to each reference andhereby incorporates by reference each of these patents in their entiretyin this disclosure.

The system 10 may have multiple components. For example, the system 10may have a central processing unit 20 (hereinafter referred to as a“CPU”). The CPU 20 may be a microprocessor, a computer and/or the like.The CPU 20 may evaluate data transmitted to the CPU 20 by the componentsof the system 10. Further, the CPU 20 may control the components of thesystem 10. The CPU 20 may be programmed by one skilled in the art toevaluate data and to control the components of the system 10.

In addition, the system 10 may have a data entry component 25(hereinafter referred to as a “DEC”). The DEC 25 may have a userinterface 30 (hereinafter referred to as a “UI”). The UI 30 may allowthe user to enter information to be processed by the CPU 20 prior to,during, and/or after examination by the system 10. Such information maybe data related to the patient, such as, for example, age, race, genderand/or the like. The UI 30 may be a keyboard, for example, or any othermeans for entering characters, data and/or information to be processedby the CPU 20. The UI 30 may have a plurality of lettered and/ornumbered input keys for manual data entry and/or may be a touch screenor other suitable device. Further, the UI 30 may have a microphone toallow the user to enter data and/or commands by voice. One havingordinary skill in the art may recognize various other alternatives forthe UI 30 within the scope of the present invention. The presentdisclosure is not intended to be limited to the examples given.

The system 10 may also have a monitor 35 which may allow the user to seethe information entered by the user into the DEC 25. The monitor 30 mayprovide high-resolution images to the user. The monitor 35 may be aplasma display, an LED display or an LCD display. The monitor 35 mayrelay information from the system 10 to the user.

In addition, the monitor 35 may display instructions for the userrelating to proper use of the system 10. For example, the instructionsmay give an outline for an examination so that the user may be requiredto complete one step of the examination before proceeding to the nextstep of the examination. The outline may ensure that the examinationsare complete and/or performed in a standardized manner. Successiveexaminations may be repeated at a later date and may be compared to theearlier examinations. As a result, data from the earlier examinationsmay be compared in a direct relationship to data collected in a laterexamination conducted in the same manner.

The system 10 may also have an imaging component 40 (hereinafterreferred to as “IC”). The IC 40 may take images of a portion of aninterior of a mouth and/or an exterior of a face of the patient. The IC40 may take images, whether, digital, still, video, digital X-ray or thelike, by means of a camera or any other image capturing device known bythose skilled in the art. The images from the IC 40 may be transferredto the CPU 20 for evaluation.

The system 10 may also have a wand 45 which may be used in conjunctionwith the IC 40. The wand 45 may have multiple capabilities. For example,the wand 45 may be capable of taking high resolution images of theinterior of the mouth of the patient. The dentition of the patient maybe visually captured by the wand 45. The oral cavity may be fully imagedby the wand 45. The wand 45 may take images of the dentition and maytransmit the images to the CPU 20.

During the initial examination, the dentition of the patient may bedigitized by the wand 45 that may be passed around the mouth of thepatient. The wand 45 may pass over the buccal, labial, occlusal andlingual surfaces of the teeth as well as the gum lines. The wand 45 mayalso pass over the patient with the teeth occluded. Images of thedentition of the patient may be registered on the monitor 35. Any aspectof the dentition may be viewed from any angle. The wand 45 may be usedto take a profile view of the face and/or a frontal view of the face ofthe patient. The wand 45 may be used to take a wide open view for ajoint analysis and/or a high smile view. The imaging of the dentitionusing the wand 45 may be non-invasive and may take about two minutes tofive minutes. The wand 45 may provide a one-to-one image of thedentition of the patient.

The wand 45 may also take images of the biting surfaces of the patient.Further, the wand 45 may take images of the exterior of the mouth of thepatient. The wand 45 may transmit the images to the CPU 20. The CPU 20may process the images of the dentition to create a virtual model of theinterior of the mouth of the patient. The virtual model may be displayedon the monitor 35. The CPU 20 may process the images of the bitingsurfaces and the exterior of the mouth of the patient to create furthervirtual models of the patient. The CPU 20 may combine the images of thedentition and the images of the biting surfaces with the exterior of themouth of the patient to enhance the virtual models and/or to providemore detail.

In addition, the system 10 may locate landmarks within the mouth of thepatient. For example, the system 10 may use the wand 45 in cooperationwith the CPU 20 may locate the landmarks within the mouth of thepatient. The wand 45 may transmit measurements of certain landmarks tothe CPU 20.

In an embodiment, the system 10 may locate approximately fiftyindividual landmarks, most of which may be on the dentition of thepatient and a portion of the landmarks may be on the face of thepatient. The landmarks may encompass the widths of the upper anteriorteeth and the widths of the lower anterior teeth. The teeth may bedeciduous or permanent. The landmarks may indicate anterior availablespace and/or posterior available space for the teeth in the upper archand/or the lower arch. The landmarks may indicate a vertical overbiteand/or an open bite, a horizontal overjet and/or a mandibularprotrusion, freeway space and a maximum jaw opening.

Further, the landmarks may indicate estimates of tooth widths ofunerupted teeth and/or erupted permanent teeth. The estimates may becalculated using various multiplication factors and a mesio-distal widthof a lower permanent central incisor. The lower permanent centralincisor may be highly correlated with the sizes of the other permanentteeth in the mouth whether erupted or unerupted. As a result, a requiredspace for sizes of various permanent teeth that may be either eruptinginto the mouth yet erupted may be determined. Thus, an assessment offuture crowding may also be determined.

The system 10 may also determine the curvature of the lower arch and theupper arch from the canine-to-canine arch width using a multiplicationfactor. The CPU 20 may measure along a line of the curvature of the archalong with apparent broken contacts and/or hidden broken contacts undertissue to obtain a reading of the arch curvature. The arch curvature maybe used to estimate position and dimensions regardless of the severityand malposition, particularly of the upper incisors in an excessivelyincisal protrusion case. The estimates of broken contacts and/orrotations may allow the CPU 20 to predict crowding.

From the various landmarks, freeway space and a maximum mandibularopening may be obtained. Gingival recession, if present, may also beobtained. Color of the gingival tissue may be observed. The color may benormal or red in color which may indicate a periodontal problem for thepatient.

By using the landmarks, the crowding and/or the spacing, as well as thearch length analysis data of the incisal or anterior portion of theupper and lower arches and the posterior upper and lower segments of thearch, the degree of crowding may be determined. Also, the landmarks mayindicate whether sufficient space may be available for correction of thecrowding or if additional appliances, such as bumpers, head gears,expansion appliance and/or full fixed orthodontics may be required toachieve a successful result. The CPU 20 may also indicate the expectedsuccess of retention and/or the amount of relapse that may occur in thefuture. The CPU 20 may access information in a database 55 to base thepredictions on statistical data of treatment results with variousappliances used for the correction.

Further, the CPU 20 may use the landmarks by processing the measurementsof the landmarks and/or the dentition to make calculations to predictfuture sizing of the dentition and/or oral conditions of the interior ofthe mouth of the patient. For example, the CPU 20 may use themeasurements and/or the landmarks to estimate the degree of enlargementor reduction required for a diagnosis in terms of calculating the propersize of a tooth and/or the teeth of the patient.

In addition, the CPU 20 may perform the arch-length analysis in such amanner that the procedure may be replicated accurately. Doing so may behelpful in the successful treatment of the patient. Repeating thisprocedure after a few months of treatment may accurately determine ifthe patient may be making sufficient progress from the treatment.

Further, the user may input information into the UI 30 of the DEC 25.The UI 30 may transmit the data to the CPU 20. The system 10 maytransmit data and/or instructions to the monitor 35 to communicate withthe user of the system 10. After the necessary information may have beenprovided by the user, the CPU 20 may transmit information to the wand 45and/or the IC 40 to take various digital images of the mouth and theteeth of the patient. If necessary, the CPU 20 may regularly askquestions and/or may instruct the user how to acquire the proper videoimages. The communication may be performed using the monitor 35 and/orthe UI 30 of the DEC 25.

The images, measurements and/or landmarks from the IC 40 may be taken bythe wand 45 and may be processed by the CPU 20. Information otherwisegathered by the system 10 may be processed by the CPU 20. The CPU 20 mayhave a data output component 50 (hereinafter referred to as “DOC”). Theinformation, images, measurements and/or landmarks may be transmitted,electronically or otherwise, by the DOC 50. The DOC 50 may transmitimages and/or data to another location, for example, via the internet,electronic mail or other means, for evaluation by another system orindividual, such as a doctor, dentist, orthodontist or the like. The DOC50 may be implemented by one skilled in the art such that the DOC 50 maytransmit images and/or data by, for example, the internet, telephony,satellite or other means. Further, the DOC 50 may generate a documentfor the patient.

In an embodiment, the IC 40 and/or the wand 45 may transmit digitaland/or analog signals that may represent the images of the mouth and/orthe dentition of the patient to the CPU 20. The CPU 20 may performcalculations and/or a diagnosis based upon the images, preprogrammedinformation and/or any other information that may be entered by theuser. After the diagnosis may be complete, the CPU 20 may instruct thepatient about treatments for the specific orthodontic conditions.

In an embodiment, the database 55 may be connected to the CPU 20 of thesystem 10. The database 55 may store information regarding medical,orthodontic and/or dental conditions, growth charts, multiplicationfactors for estimations, standardized measurements and/or the like. Forexample, sizes of dentition for patients of various age ranges may bestored in the database 55.

The database 55 may store information associated with the severity of amedical, orthodontic and/or dental condition. For example, the severitymay be identified in one of three categories: minimal, moderate orsevere. The database 55 connected to the CPU 20 of the system 10 maystore information, such as medical, orthodontic and/or dental standardsregarding the degree of an overbite, for example. The CPU 20 maydetermine if the overbite may be minimal, moderate, or severe based uponimages taken by the wand 45 and/or from the IC 40. To this end, rangesmay be established for the three categories. Information regarding thepatient and the images from the IC 40 may be analyzed by softwareinstalled in the CPU 10 to determine in which category the patient maybe classified.

For example, an overbite that may be more than a minimal amount may betreatable by a corrective dental appliance. Therefore, if the CPU 20 maydetermine that the overbite of the patient may be greater than a minimalamount, a corrective dental appliance may be recommended to the patient.However, if the CPU 20 may determine that the degree of overbite is amaximum amount and/or may further determine that the age of the patientmay be greater than fifteen years of age, the CPU 20 of the system 10may deny the patient a diagnosis and/or a dental appliance.

Further, the CPU 20 may access the database 55 for informationassociated with various sizes of appliances indicated for variousproblems for patients of different ages. For example, a Nite-Guide®appliance (a registered trademark of Ortho-Tain, Inc.) may be providedin eleven sizes for patients of five years of age to seven years of ageor younger. An Occlus-o-Guide® appliance (a registered trademark ofOrtho-Tain, Inc.) may be provided in thirteen sizes for patients ofeight years of age to twelve years of age. Also, an Ortho-T® appliance(a registered trademark of Ortho-Tain, Inc.) may be provided in thirteensizes for patients twelve years of age and older. Moreover, variouspreformed positioners of different types and/or sizes may be stored inthe database 55. The appliances and/or positioners may be stored in thedatabase as digitized images. The digitized images of the appliances maybe transparent. The system 10 may fit the digitized images of theappliance over a digital model of the dentition of a patient. Theprofessional may see through the transparent digitized image of theappliance to verify if the selected size and/or type of appliance mayfit for the specific patient.

Thus, the system may virtually place a preformed appliance over thedentition of the patient to see if the appliance may fit without evertrying the actual appliance in the mouth of the patient. Using thesystem 10 to test fit the appliance over the digitized dentition of thepatient may eliminate the need to sterilize the actual appliance priorto actually trying the appliance in the mouth of the patient. Any sizeof the digitized image of the appliance may be tried for the proper fit.Thus, keeping a full inventory of the sizes of the appliances may not berequired.

FIG. 2 illustrates a flowchart of a method 100 in an embodiment of thepresent invention. Embodiments of the present invention disclose themethod 100 for assessing, diagnosing and/or reporting orthodonticconditions of a patient. The orthodontic conditions of the patient maydepend on the age of the patient, since the dentition of the patient maychange and/or may mature within certain age ranges. Therefore, thesystem 10 and/or the method 100 may be tailored to the age of thepatient. To this end, the method 100 may have an initial assessment. Themethod 100 may have a step 105 in which the initial assessment may beperformed on the patient. The initial assessment may be tailored to theage of the patient.

As shown in FIG. 2, step 110 illustrates Program A which may be designedfor children and/or patients ranging in age from two and one-half yearsof age or three years of age to five years of age or six years of age.Program A may be configured to relate to the dentition and/or the oraldevelopment of patients in this age range. In particular, patients inthis age range may experience the eruption of early deciduous dentition.Thus, Program A may correlate the initial assessment and/or any furtherexaminations of the patient to the specific age of the patient. Thecorrelated initial assessment may focus the initial assessment on thecurrent state of development of the patient. Certain assessments may notbe indicated for the age range in Program A. However, other assessmentsmay be critical at the current state of development of the patient. Tothis end, Program A may be performed as set forth hereinafter.

Further, step 120 illustrates Program B which may be designed forchildren and/or patients ranging in age from five years of age to sevenyears of age. Program B may be configured to relate to the dentitionand/or oral development of patients in this age range. In particular,patients in this age range may have transitional dentition. Thus,Program B may correlate the initial assessment and/or any furtherexaminations of the patient to the specific age of the patient. Thecorrelated initial assessment may focus the initial assessment on thecurrent state of development of the patient. Certain assessments may notbe indicated for the age range in Program B. However, other assessmentsmay be critical at the current state of development of the patient. Tothis end, Program B may be performed as set forth hereinafter.

Moreover, step 130 illustrates Program C which may be designed forchildren and/or patients ranging in age from eight years of age totwelve years of age. Program C may be configured to relate to thedentition and/or oral development of patients in this age range. Inparticular, patients in this age range may have mixed dentition. Thus,Program C may correlate the initial assessment and/or any furtherexaminations of the patient to the specific age of the patient. Thecorrelated initial assessment may focus the initial assessment on thecurrent state of development of the patient. Certain assessments may notbe indicated for the age range in Program C. However, other assessmentsmay be critical at the current state of development of the patient. Tothis end, Program C may be performed as set forth hereinafter.

Step 140 of FIG. 2 illustrates Program D which may be designed forchildren and/or patients ranging in age from twelve years of age toeighteen years of age. Program D may be configured to relate to thedentition and/or oral development of patients in this range. Inparticular, patients in this age range may have early permanentdentition. Thus, Program D may correlate the initial assessment and/orany further examinations of the patient to the specific age of thepatient. The correlated initial assessment may focus the initialassessment on the current state of development of the patient. Certainassessments may not be indicated for the age range in Program D.However, other assessments may be critical at the current state ofdevelopment of the patient. To this end, Program D may be performed asset forth hereinafter.

Step 150 of FIG. 2 illustrates Program E which may be designed forchildren and/or patients ranging in age from eighteen years of age toadulthood. Program E may be configured to relate to the dentition and/ororal development of patients in this range. In particular, patients inthis age range may have mature and/or late permanent dentition. Thus,Program E may correlate the initial assessment and/or any furtherexaminations of the patient to the specific age of the patient. Thecorrelated initial assessment may focus the initial assessment on thecurrent state of development of the patient. Certain assessments may notbe indicated for the age range in Program E. However, other assessmentsmay be critical at the current state of development of the patient. Tothis end, Program E may be performed as set forth hereinafter.Therefore, the system 10 and/or the method 100 may be described hereinwith respect to the defined patient age ranges.

As shown in FIG. 2, step 110 illustrates Program A of the method 100.The system 10 and/or the method 100 may be tailored to children and/orpatients that may range from two and one-half years of age or threeyears of age to five years of age or six years of age. Patients withinthis age range may experience the eruption of early deciduous dentition.The system 10 and/or the method 100 may have the initial assessmentand/or a full records assessment. As shown in FIG. 2, the method 100 mayhave step 115. Step 115 may be the full records assessment for thepatient that may be within the age range for Program A.

In an embodiment, a professional, such as a dental, orthodontic ormedical professional, assistant or hygienist for example, (hereinafter,referred to as, “the professional”) may perform the initial assessmenton the patient. After the initial assessment, the system 10 and/or themethod 100 may generate a preliminary and/or initial diagnosis basedupon certain determining characteristics of the patient. The system 10and/or the method 100 may provide such a diagnosis prior to the fullrecords assessment.

For example, in an embodiment, Program A may have seven initialdetermining characteristics that may be assessed by the professional.The characteristics may be as follows:

-   -   1. Any sleep problems (snoring, attention deficit, daytime        sleepiness, morning headaches, etc.)    -   2. Any significant speech problems    -   3. Mandibular retrusions    -   4. Temporomandibular Joint (“TMJ”) problems    -   5. Habits, such as mouth breathing, finger sucking, swallowing        problems    -   6. Swollen tonsils or adenoids    -   7. End-to-end jaw relation and/or a prognathic relation, for        example a forward positioning of the mandible

Thus, the system 10 and/or the method 100 may generate the preliminaryand/or initial diagnosis based the seven determining factors listedwithout the additional examinations and/or diagnostics of the fullrecords assessment. The system 10 and/or the method 100 may make adecision on the seven determining factors. As a result, the system 10and/or the method 100 may provide the assessment and/or the diagnosisfor treatment recommendations prior to the full records assessment.

Also, the professional may assess several other factors and/or problemsof the patient. For example, the professional may assess whether thepatient may have any sleeping problems. In particular, the assessmentmay determine the following:

-   -   1. Does the patient have hyperactivity, attention deficit        disorder (“ADD”), and/or look sleepy?    -   2. Does the patient have an excessive overjet and/or a class II        relation over three mm?    -   3. Does the patient mouth breathe, have a narrow palate and/or        have habits like thumb-sucking?    -   4. Does the patient have swollen tonsils?

In the event of a positive response to any of the four questions, theprofessional may provide a sleep disordered breathing questionnaire tothe parent of the patient to obtain further details of the sleep habitsof the patient. A positive response to multiple items on the sleepdisordered breathing questionnaire may indicate that a recommendationfor further records and/or possible treatment may be required.

Also, the CPU 20 of the system 10 may access information in the database55 that may contain data associated with sleep-disordered breathing. Forexample, the information may have data arranged by the followingcategories: symptom, acceptable normal amount, incidence, risk ofproblem by twelve years of age, resultant problems by twelve years ofage and/or treatment recommendations.

In an embodiment, Program A may be used to diagnose and/or treat sleepproblems in children. For example, FIG. 11 outlines the most commonbehavioral symptoms together with snoring and mouth breathing. Theinformation from the database 55 as shown in FIG. 11 may have datarelated to symptoms with associated acceptable amounts and incidence ofoccurrence. Further, the information may have data that may relate thesymptoms to the likelihood of associated risks and/or resultant problemsof the particular symptom. Finally, the information may have treatmentrecommendations for the symptoms. The data from the database 55 may beused to prepare the preliminary and/or initial assessment and/ordiagnosis.

The professional may also determine if the patient may have any speechproblems. For example, the professional may inquire whether the patientmay be hard to understand, may drop consonants and/or may have a lisp.If so, a speech questionnaire may be provided to the parent of thepatient to obtain further details of the speech habits of the patient.The professional may also determine if the patient may have any otherproblems, such as, an open bite and/or tongue thrust issues. The system10 and/or the method 100 may recommend further analysis in the event ofa positive response to any of the above assessment items.

The system 10 and/or the method 100 may generate a document withfindings and/or explanations of the importance and/or the requirementsof further analysis for the patient. The document may be generated in anelectronic format and/or a hard copy format. The document may be givento the parent of the patient. The professional may provide additionalinformation to the parent of the patient, if required and/or if desired.However, the document may provide the parent of the patient with thepreliminary and/or initial assessment and/or diagnosis for the patient.

The document may summarize the problems discovered and/or present withthe patient. An assessment and/or description of the seven elements ofthe initial determining characteristics may be provided in the document.The document may list any of the problems the patient may have and anyassociated recommendations for treatment. The document may also predictif future treatment may be warranted for the problems that the patientmay have. The document may explain the problems related to sleepdisorders that cause certain symptoms. For example, the lack of oxygenin the blood because of the restriction of the airway may result in highblood pressure and other serious heart problems.

In an embodiment, the system 10 and/or the method 100 may measureseveral other conditions. For example, mandibular retrusions may bemeasured by identifying a landmark on the upper central incisal edge andmeasuring the distance parallel to the posterior occlusal plane to thecontact with the lower central incisor. Mandibular retrusions, the sizeof the adenoids and/or the antero-posterior width of the nasopharynx andthe oropharynx may be determined during the full records assessment thatmay use a cephalometric x-ray film and/or a 3-D film.

In an embodiment, the system 10 and/or the method 100 may measureoverjet of the patient and may predict the expected overjet by twelveyears of age. The system 10 and/or the method 100 may provide treatmentrecommendations. The system 10 and/or the method 100 may obtain therecommendations for particular severities of overjet that may bedetermined by comparison with standards.

For example, treatment for any overjet of three mm or more may berecommended in the deciduous dentition if the patient has sleepproblems. Treatment for any overjet over four mm may be recommended toprevent potential sleep problems from developing in the patient. FIG. 12illustrates the overjet that may be corrected, particularly if sleepproblems are suspected in the patient. Overjet may cause problems forthe patient when associated with sleep problems. However, overjet may becorrected at this age.

In an embodiment, the document may contain data related to theparticular measurements of the overjet and specific treatmentrecommendations. For example, the document may state that an overjet offour mm has a strong risk of being associated with airway constrictionand may be corrected at this age.

TMJ problems may be a problem in young children, and treatment may beimportant if present. The professional may examine the patient for TMJproblems, for example, by performing a physical examination and/orasking a series of questions associated with TMJ. The symptoms of TMJmay be checked at the initial examination and may be verified during thefull records assessment.

The professional may also inquire about certain habits that the patientmay have. For example, such habits may be swallowing problems, mouthbreathing, thumb sucking and/or finger sucking and/or the like. Also,speech habits and/or problems may be determined. The speechquestionnaire may be provided to the parent of the patient to obtainfurther details of the speech habits of the patient.

The professional may investigate whether the patient may snore and, ifso, the frequency of the snoring. For example, if the patient may snorefrequently and/or habitually, the professional may examine the patientto determine whether the adenoids and/or the tonsils may be swollen. Ifthe adenoids and/or the tonsils have major swelling or if the patientmay have difficult nasal breathing, the patient may be referred to apediatrician or an ear, nose and throat (“ENT”) specialist.

The professional may also investigate whether the patient may breatheasily through the nose, may have difficulty with nasal breathing or maynot be able to breathe through the nose. Other observations may bewhether the patient may have a retrognathic mandible and/or excessiveoverjet. A further observation may be whether the patient snores onlywhen on his or her back or snores in any position.

The sleep disordered breathing questionnaire may indicate that thepatient may have labored, difficult and/or loud breathing at night, mayhave interrupted snoring where breathing stops for two seconds to fourseconds, and/or may have stoppage of breathing more than twice in onehour. In these situations, the professional may refer the patient to apediatrician and/or a sleep specialist.

The professional may initially diagnose end-to-end jaw relations and aprognathic mandible and may recommended correction to help control anyprogression. Further confirmation may be made with a lateralcephalometric x-ray film or 3-D film in the full records assessment.Various measurements may be made to confirm and to estimate the severityof the problem.

In an embodiment, the initial assessment and diagnosis may besufficiently complete to recommend further records, imaging and/ortreatment recommendations. The document may be provided to the parent ofthe patient. The document may outline the initial treatmentrecommendations and may contain data of the findings. The document maydescribe the treatment time and fee. The document may also have picturesof other similar cases of patients at twelve years of age, for example,as a result of non-treatment.

In an embodiment, the system 10 and/or the method 100 may also encompassthe full records assessment of Program A as shown in step 115 of FIG. 2.As part of the full records assessment, the professional may take x-raysof the patient. For example, the x-rays may contain a digital panoramicx-ray film of the patient, a lateral digital cephalometric x-ray film,and/or one 3-D x-ray film. The 3-D x-ray film may be preferred sincedetails may be clearer to see in such an x-ray. The imaging in the fullrecords assessment may contain intra-oral and/or facial photographs.

The professional may perform an oral examination of the patient as partof the full records assessment. The professional may review thecompleted sleep disordered breathing questionnaire and/or the speechquestionnaire. If the sleep disordered breathing questionnaire mayindicate that the patient may have labored, difficult, loud breathing atnight, may have interrupted snoring where breathing stops for twoseconds to four seconds and/or may have stoppage of breathing more thantwice in one hour, the professional may refer the patient to apediatrician and/or a sleep specialist. Further, the patient may requirea home night study to check for possible apnea or hypopnea. The homenight study may indicate that the patient may have sleep apnea in whichbreathing may cease for four seconds or more and may occur more thantwice per hour. The home night study may indicate that the patient mayhave hypopnea in which the patient may have labored breathing. Suchpositive indications may require a referral to a sleep specialist.Positive responses to seven or more items on the sleep disorderedbreathing questionnaire may indicate that the patient may havesleep-disordered breathing that may warrant correction. The treatmentmay depend upon other symptoms the patient may have such as mouthbreathing, habitual or periodic snoring, narrow palate, retrognathicmandible and/or the like.

The professional may verify whether the patient may be able to breathethrough his or her nose during the full records assessment. If not, theprofessional may check if the palate may be narrow. The palate may becompared to a normal amount. If the palate may be an abnormal amount,the palate may require widening. If the palate may be of a normal width,the professional may refer the patient to a pediatrician to check fordeviated septum and/or swollen adenoids and/or tonsils.

The full records assessment may require a further TMJ examination toobserve clicking, a deviated opening, a maximum opening, pain, adifficult opening and/or difficult chewing as may have been observed atthe initial examination. If any of these problems may exist, exceptlimited opening, the patient may be treated. If the patient may have thelimited opening, the professional may refer the patient to a TMJspecialist. Information about the TMJ may have been given after theinitial examination.

The professional may consider habits of the patient as part of the fullrecords assessment. For example, if the child sucks his or her thumband/or fingers during the day, the problem may be a serious one.Typically, the patient may reduce the sucking habit after startingschool. If the thumb sucking and/or finger sucking may be causing anopen bite under in a patient five years of age, the open bite may becorrected, particularly if the patient mouth breathes during the day.Other habits that may cause the palate to be narrow, such as swallowingproblems, tongue-thrusting and/or sucking habits, may be corrected toprevent the habit from affecting the palate width.

The professional may review any speech problems from the speechquestionnaire that indicate that a sleep problem may exist. Theprofessional may question the parent of the patient in detail about thesleep problems, particularly snoring, hyperactivity, attention deficit,daytime sleepiness and mouth breathing. Such problems may be the fivemost important symptoms.

The professional may analyze the panoramic film and/or the 3-D film, ifavailable, as part of the full records assessment. The panoramic filmand/or the 3-D film may be analyzed by the system 10 and/or the method100. For example, the CPU 20 may analyze the panoramic film and/or the3-D film to ensure that all unerupted teeth may be present. Theprofessional may also perform this review. If any permanent teeth may bemissing, the missing teeth may be charted. For example, FIG. 3illustrates a dentition chart 200. The dentition chart 200 may haveplaceholders, such as boxes, for example to represent the dentition ofthe mouth. The relative placement of the dentition may be organized onthe dentition chart 200. The erupted teeth may be indicated on thedentition chart 200.

The professional may physically examine the unerupted teeth by the usingthe system 10 to ensure the unerupted teeth may be in the properrespective positions to erupt into the arch. The professional may chartthe dentition on the dentition chart 200. Any teeth not erupting in theproper respective positions may also be charted on the dentition chart200. The professional may determine whether any extra teeth exist and/orwhether the extra teeth may require removal now and/or in the future.The professional may also examine the patient for any other observableproblems present such as cysts, tumors, abscesses, bone problems and/orthe like.

The professional may also analyze the cephalometric x-ray and/or the 3-Dfilm during the full records assessment. The professional may use thesystem 10 and/or the method 100 to take three measurements of thenasopharynx. Certain anatomical parts may be located and measured. Forexample, a measurement of a narrowed distance from the uvula to the postwall of pharynx may be made. The thickness of the uvula may be measured.A measurement from the tip of the uvula to the post wall of the pharynxmay be made. A measurement of the oropharynx from the base of the tongueto the posterior wall of the pharynx may also be made.

Measurements may be taken to determine whether the amounts may be normalor abnormal. If any nasopharynx measurements may be abnormal, theprofessional may check for potential causes, such as, for example,whether the adenoids and/or the tonsils may be swollen. Any swollentonsils and/or adenoids may be referred to the pediatrician for possibleremoval if the patient may be considered to have a breathing problem.

If any nasopharynx measurements may be abnormal, the professional maycheck for potential causes, such as whether the upper arch may benarrow. The system 10 may measure dimensions in area across the canines,the deciduous first molar, the deciduous second molar and/or the firstpermanent molars. The CPU 20 may determine from information from thedatabase 55 whether the measurements may be normal or abnormal and mayalso provide treatment recommendations.

The professional may further analyze the cephalometric x-ray and/or the3-D film during the full records assessment. The professional may usethe system 10 to take measurements of the retrognathic position of themaxilla and the mandible. The professional may locate several landmarksusing the system 10, such as, for example, points Ba, A, B, N, Gn, Po,Me, the tip of the upper and the lower incisors, Co, ANS, PNS, Go.

The system 10 may measure the following linear distances: Ba-A, Ba-B,ANB, overjet, Co-Gn, N-Me, Ba-PNS and ANS-Me. The CPU 20 may compare thelinear distances to normal and abnormal measurements. To this end, theCPU 20 may access information from the database 55. If the overjet, ANB,Bo-A and Ba-B may be abnormal, the professional may make arecommendation for treatment if the patient may be suspected of havingsleep problems.

If any nasopharynx measurements may be abnormal, the professional maycheck for potential causes, such as, for example, an open bite. Thesystem 20 may measure any evidence of an open bite. If the open bite maybe accompanied by a sucking habit, treatment may be stronglyrecommended. Further, the system 10 may measure an end-to-end jawrelation and any Class III tendency. If either may exist, treatment maybe strongly recommended, particularly if a skeletal Class III may beless than three mm. Finally, the CPU 20 may identify a tip of the twolower deciduous canines and may multiply this distance by a factor of0.926 to obtain the arch curvature of the incisal available space. Thesystem 10 and/or the method 100 may also measure the curvature along theincisal edges of the lower four deciduous incisors to also obtain theavailable space. The upper dentition may be assessed in the same manner.The CPU 20 may access the database 55 to determine a size of anappliance that may be recommended for use.

The full records assessment shown in step 115 of FIG. 2 may utilize thesystem 10 to determine and/or to list any findings that may result fromthe full records assessment and/or other analysis. The full recordsassessment may have any recommended treatments and/or proceduresindicated by the analysis of the oral examination, the panoramic and/or3-D film and/or the cephalometric and/or 3-D film. Thus, the system 10and/or the method 100 may provide the initial assessment and the fullrecords assessment and/or analysis of the early deciduous dentition ofthe patient of three years of age to five years of age.

As a result of the initial assessment and/or the full recordsassessment, an appliance may be recommended treatment for the patient aspart of an overall treatment plan. For example, the system 10 may haveinformation in the database 55 related to the appliance and/or whetherthe appliance may be indicated for a particular condition. FIG. 5illustrates a collection of information that may be accessed related torecommendations for appliances from the CPU 20. In an embodiment, theCPU 20 may access the information in FIG. 5 from the database 55. FIG. 5may list symptoms of the patient, the appliance most applicable to thesymptoms of the patient and/or the recommended uses of the appliance.Various habit correctors and youth appliances may be listed. Inparticular, certain appliances may be listed by name. For example, theNite-Guide® appliance may be worn at night for certain problems. Thus,the CPU 20 of the system 10 may access the database 55 to determine anappropriate appliance for the patient.

As shown in FIG. 2, step 120 illustrates Program B of the method 100.Program B may be designed for children and/or patients ranging in agefrom five years of age to seven years of age. Program B may beconfigured to relate to the dentition and/or oral development ofpatients in this range. In particular, patients in this age range mayhave transitional dentition. Thus, Program B may correlate the initialassessment and/or any other examinations of the patient to the specificage of the patient. The correlated initial assessment may focus theinitial assessment on the current state of development of the patient.Certain assessments may not be indicated for the age range in Program B.However, other assessments may be critical at the current state ofdevelopment of the patient. To this end, Program B may be performed asset forth hereinafter.

In an embodiment, any one of the following problems may be require atreatment recommendation and/or the full records assessment shown instep 125 of FIG. 2. The problems may be as follows:

-   -   1. Crowding/spacing in which a lower arch and an upper arch        length analysis may be performed to determine whether the        patient may be a candidate for treatment. Other problems, such        as, for example, displaced teeth with space shortage, missing        teeth and various other problems may be examined and noted by        the professional.    -   2. Overbite greater than one and one-quarter mm and/or an open        bite of any severity    -   3. Overjet greater than three mm and/or a Class III relation of        any severity including zero mm which may be an end-to-end or        pseudo Class III relation    -   4. Cross-bites of any severity    -   5. TMJ having any two symptoms except for limited opening    -   6. Habits such as, for example, thumb sucking, finger sucking,        swallowing, speech problems and/or mouth breathing    -   7. Suspected sleep-disordered breathing problems    -   8. Narrow upper arch

The system 10 and/or the method 100 may generate the document for thepatient. The document may summarize whether any of the above eight itemsmay be problems that may be considered beyond normal. The document mayalso explain why the full records assessment and/or probable treatmentmay be recommended. The document may contain the treatment timerequired, the patient responsibility, any fee involved, probabilities ofsuccess and any possible relapse. The document may have pictures thatmay illustrate what the teeth may look like without performing anytreatment.

The CPU 20 may generate and/or print the document for the parent of thepatient with findings for the parent to consider and/or study. Forexample, the document may be configured as shown in FIG. 6. The documentmay be generated after the initial assessment 105 may be performed instep 120 of Program B of the method 100 and prior to step 125 in whichthe full records assessment may be conducted.

Further, the professional, the dental assistant or the hygienist mayexamine the patient and indicate on the monitor 35 his/her answers. Forexample, the examination may determine whether the teeth present may beonly deciduous except for the first permanent molars. If so, theexamination may determine whether the lower deciduous incisors may bestraight with no crowding and no spacing. The examination may determinewhether any permanent teeth may be present. If so, the professional mayexamine the patient and indicate the permanent teeth on the dentitionchart 200 on the monitor 35.

The professional may also determine whether the upper incisors and/orthe lower incisors, either deciduous or permanent, may be crooked. Ifnot, the professional may examine the patient and indicate whether anydeciduous teeth may be absent and may indicate the absent teeth on thedentition chart 200. Further, if any teeth may be absent, theprofessional may examine the patient and/or may indicate whether thespace may be partially or completely closed. The professional maydetermine whether any permanent teeth may be erupting though tissueand/or may have fully erupted.

The professional may also perform a decay check if required by a school,for example. The dentition chart 200 may be filled out with a separatedocument indicating the number of suspected cavities present for thepatient on a separate sheet. The teeth that may be suspected of havingdecay may be indicated on the dentition chart 200. As a result, thepatient may require a visit to a dentist for treatment.

The professional may examine the patient further and indicate on themonitor 35 his/her answers. For example, the professional may determinewhether the patient may have an open bite. If so, the professional maydetermine whether the open bite may be due to a habit and/or may beskeletal. Further, the professional may determine whether the patientmay have a Class III problem, an end-to-end, pseudo Class III problemand/or a skeletal Class III problem. Also, the professional maydetermine whether the patient may have any anterior and/or posteriorcross-bites or a narrow palate.

The professional may examine the patient further and input his/heranswers with the UI 30. For example, the examination may determinewhether the patient may have TMJ. The examination may involve checkingfor the following TMJ issues:

-   -   a) sporadic or frequent clicking    -   b) frequent or infrequent pain and/or headaches    -   c) opening deviation or difficulty in opening    -   d) difficult chewing    -   e) limited opening with only two fingers

The professional may also examine the patient further and may enterhis/her answers with the UI 30. The examination may determine whetherthe patient may have certain habits, for example. The examination maycheck for the following habits:

-   -   a) swallowing problems and/or tongue thrusting    -   b) mouth breathing during the night only or during the day and        the night    -   c) speech problems, for example, a lisp or difficulty to        understand the speech of the patient    -   d) thumb sucking and/or finger sucking during the night only or        during the day and the night

The professional may scan the dentition, the profile of the face withteeth occluded and the front of the face with teeth occluded. Theprofessional may observe a frontal high smile and a frontal wide openmouth that may show upper and lower incisal edges.

The system 10 may identify various landmarks after the professional mayscan the dentition. The CPU 20 may identify landmarks from a scannedstudy cast of dentition or the professional may personally identify thelandmarks by hand. Using the wand 45 of the IC 40 to scan the mouth ofthe patient may provide a digitized dentition that may be more reliable,consistent and unbiased. The following landmarks may be identified:

-   -   a) an upper incisal edge and/or a lower incisal edge of one        central incisor that may be on the left or the right whichever        may be clearer and straight, the central incisor may be        deciduous or permanent if fully erupted    -   b) mesial of the upper deciduous canines and/or the lower        deciduous canines    -   c) mesial and distal of the upper centrals and/or the lower        centrals and laterals which may be deciduous or permanent if        erupted    -   d) tip of the cusp of the upper canines and the lower canines    -   e) distal of the deciduous canines and distal of the second        deciduous molars if there may be a shortage of posterior space        due to loss of teeth and/or decay    -   f) the center point on the occlusal surface of all deciduous        upper molars and/or lower molars

The CPU 20 may perform an arch length analysis of the lower incisal areaand/or the upper incisal area. For example, when only deciduous lowerincisors may be present, the lower arch length analysis may beperformed. The landmark identified in the landmark d) above, namely thetip of the deciduous canine to the tip of other canine may be multipliedby a factor of 0.926, and four may be added to the result. The finalnumber may be the available space of lower incisor area. Also, thesystem 10 and/or the CPU 20 may measure the curve of the arch betweenmesial of the canines.

If only deciduous incisors may be present, the mesial-distal widths ofthe lower four deciduous incisors may be subtracted from the availablespace calculated above to obtain any spaces present. The spaces betweenthe teeth and/or crowding of the deciduous incisors may determinewhether treatment may be recommended. The CPU may access information inthe database 55 and compare the measurements to the information in thedatabase 55 to determine whether treatment may be recommended. Theinformation may further indicate the incidence, the future risk ofmalocclusion and/or the prediction of crowding by a certain age for eachmeasurement. Such information may be provided to the parent of thepatient.

Also, if a permanent lower incisor may be showing, the CPU 20 maymultiply the mesial-distal width of the lower central incisor by fourand add one to obtain the required space. The available space less therequired space may equal an arch shortage, an arch excess or may benormal. If any arch shortage greater than one mm may be present,treatment may be strongly recommended regardless of what the upper maybe. The CPU 20 may access information in the database 55 and compare themeasurements to the information in the database 55 to determine whethertreatment may be recommended. When the lower arch length analysis may bedone and the first permanent lower incisor or any number of lowerincisors may have broken though the tissue, the CPU 20 may accessinformation in the database 55 to obtain how much room may be expectedto develop depending on which teeth have erupted.

For example, the information in the database may describe which teethmay have fully erupted at the time of the initial exam. The informationmay also state how much expansion may occur up to about eight years ofage. Therefore, the lower available space calculation described abovemay be calculated using the tip of the deciduous lower canine to the tipof the opposite canine on other side multiplied by the factor of 0.926with four added to the result. The result may represent the expansionexpected from the eruption of the lower incisors. However, the four mmmay have to be altered in that the added four may change since eachpermanent tooth that has fully erupted has reduced the amount.Therefore, the CPU 20 may access other information in the database 55.

For example, if both of the lower permanent centrals may be fullyerupted, the other information may indicate that only one mm of futurearch expansion may be left. Thus, the available space formula may becalculated using the tip of the deciduous lower canine to the tip of theopposite canine on other side multiplied by the factor of 0.926 with oneadded to the result to obtain the lower available space. Once theavailable space may be determined, the required space may be measuredfrom the mesial-distal width of one lower permanent central multipliedby four with one mm added for the two laterals. The required space maybe subtracted from available space. The result may represent crowdingwith a negative number, excess with a positive number or may be normalif the result may be zero. The CPU 20 may access information in thedatabase 55 and may compare the measurements to the information in thedatabase 55 to determine whether treatment may be recommended.

The CPU 20 may access information in the database 55 to obtain theparameters of treatment when greater lower crowding than seven mm may bepresent and may indicate when a limited amount of further treatment maybe needed. Such further treatment may use a bumper or a headgear whichmay produce an extra three mm. Such further treatment may require anadditional fee, and the CPU 20 may be present the fee amount in thedocument to the patient. Also, the information in the database 55 mayprovide extreme limits that may not be treated even with a bumper andmay recommend when a patient may require a specialist for fixedorthodontics.

Further, the information in the database 55 may provide the total lowerspace that may be available from forceful expansion and from strippingthe deciduous lower molars to yield the total space that may beavailable for the correction of the crowding. If the Nite-Guide®appliance procedure may be started at the correct time as the firstlower permanent central breaks tissue, seven mm of correction may beavailable with the appliance alone. If more crowding than this may bepresent, the use of the bumper may provide an extra three mm, so thetotal possible space created with Nite-Guide® appliance and the bumpermay be ten mm. Values over eleven mm may be referred out to a specialistfor fixed orthodontics.

In an embodiment, to calculate the proper size of the bumper, ameasurement may be made by the CPU 20. The CPU 20 may measure a distancefrom a point two mm buccally opposite the center of the mesio-buccalcusp of the lower first molar or the upper first molar to estimate thesize of an upper bumper. The measurement may be made from either theleft side or the right side. A measurement may be made from this pointto the same point on the opposite side, two mm buccal from the center ofthe mesial-buccal cusp, exactly around the arch keeping the line ofmeasure two mm away from the buccal and labial surfaces of the teeth atthe gingival margin. The measurement may be made at the most prominentand/or the widest position of the teeth bucco lingually and slightlyocclusally from the gingival margin. If the upper incisors may beseverely tipped labially, the measurement may be made at the gingivalmargin two mm labial to this gingival margin and not at the incisaledges of these upper incisors. This measurement may be used for theproper size of the bumper according to FIG. 17.

In an embodiment, the CPU 20 may compare the obtained measurement withinformation in the database 55. For example, FIG. 22 illustratesinformation related to the sizes of the bumpers. The measurement may bewithin a certain range which may indicate the bumper size number. Theactual size of the bumper may also be provided in FIG. 22.

In an embodiment, data related to TMJ problems and TMD diagnosis may beused by the system 10. Certain symptoms may be incorporated into the CPU20. For example, TMJ sounds may be recorded by the system 10. Thefrequency, amplitude and type may be sampled by a device similar to astethoscope that may be placed over each TMJ. As the patient opens andcloses, the device may record the sounds of clicking and cretitus. TheTMJ sounds may be recorded in normal occlusion as well as an advancedposition which may eliminate the clicking sounds. The recording may berepeated after a treatment period to verify progress and/or improvement.

Also, the sound of the patient snapping teeth together may be recorded.A solid one-sound noise or a multi-sound noise when occluding the teethtogether may determine if the occlusion may be well coordinated or mayhave various interferences. Areas of improper contact on occlusion maybe located.

A video may be made of the opening and closing movements of the patient.The video may be digitally recorded. A single straight line may bepresent on opening and closing movements. Various lateral excursions maybe recorded. An image of the maximum opening of the jaw may be measuredin mm and may be compared to normal and abnormal opening mouthsaccording to various ages as listed in FIG. 23.

Moreover, the CPU 20 may access information in the database 55 and maycompare the measurements to the information in the database to determineif a case may be corrected when various lower permanent incisors may bepresent. Any crowded dentition from six and one-half mm up to ten mm ofcrowding may be corrected, depending on what teeth have already eruptedand whether the Nite-Guide® appliance may be used alone with strippingof the posterior deciduous molars or if an additional bumper may berequired.

Moreover, the information in the database 55 may provide the total lowerspace that may be available after various permanent incisors havealready fully erupted. The total lower space may be the expansionpossible due to the eruption of the permanent incisors plus thestripping of the post deciduous molars. To obtain the projected crowdingand/or spacing and the recommendations for treatment to be presented tothe parent, the required space may be subtracted from the availablespace to obtain the degree of crowding or spacing present. Theinformation in the database 55 may be used to inform the parent aboutthe lower arch condition of the patient.

Although the lower arch may be primarily used for the diagnosis, the CPU20 may perform an arch length analysis of the upper incisal arch. Theupper arch length analysis may be performed in a similar manner to theanalysis of the lower arch length. When only the deciduous upperincisors may be present, the upper arch length analysis may beperformed. The tip of the upper deciduous canine to the tip of oppositedeciduous canine on the other side may be multiplied by a factor of0.9932, and seven may be added to the result. The final number may bethe available space of the upper.

The mesial-distal width of the lower permanent central, if erupted, maybe measured to get the approximate sizes of the upper permanent teeth.For example, the size of the upper permanent central may be equal to thesize of the lower permanent central incisor multiplied by a factor of1.61. The size of the upper permanent lateral may be equal to the sizeof the lower permanent central incisor multiplied by a factor of 1.23.The total required upper may be determined by adding together the upperpermanent central incisor and the upper permanent lateral incisor andmultiplying by two. The CPU 20 may access information in the database 55and may compare the measurements to the information in the database 55to determine the amount for future enlargement expected when variouspermanent teeth may already be erupted. In the same manner as in thelower arch calculation, various upper permanent incisors may be presentwith gradual reductions in the remaining space created by the fulleruption of the upper permanent incisors. The required space in theupper arch may be obtained in the same way as above.

A shortage of more than one mm of the upper permanent incisors may bestrongly recommended for treatment. One mm may be treated foraesthetics, but most parents do not want any crowding to be present inthe upper arch. However, the lower may usually be the diagnostic arch todetermine whether treatment may be needed. The upper arch findings maybe presented to the parent of the patient.

If no permanent upper incisors or permanent lower incisors may bepartially showing through tissue and the deciduous incisors upper andlower may be present, the upper arch length analysis may be performed.The upper available space may be determined by measuring the tip of theupper deciduous canine to tip of the deciduous canine on the oppositeside and multiplying by a factor of 0.9932 with seven added to theresult. The final number may be the available space of the upperdeciduous area. The required space may be estimated which may be moredifficult since no permanent lower central incisor may be present formeasurement initially. However, the treatment may not be started untilone lower permanent incisor may be showing.

If all permanent lower incisors may be present, the CPU 20 may performthe arch length analysis by measuring widths of the four lower permanentincisors and also by measuring the curvature of the arch of the lowerfrom the mesial of the canine to the other canine mesial and subtractingthe actual tooth size from the curvature of the arch which may equal theavailable space to get the shortage, the excess or no crowding.

The upper arch length analysis may be done in a similar way except ifthere may be an overjet with the upper incisors in a forward position.The CPU 20 may position the curvature two mm anterior to the lowerincisal arch curvature and may measure the distance from the mesial ofone upper canine to the mesial of the other canine to obtain the upperavailable space. The upper required space may be obtained by eithermeasuring the width of the upper permanent central incisor andmultiplying it by 3.5262 or by multiplying the width of the lowerpermanent central incisor by 5.6776 or by 1.3385 or by multiplying theupper canine to canine width by 1.0363. The width of one upper permanentcentral may equal the width of the lower permanent central multiplied bythe factor of 1.6082. The width of one upper permanent lateral may equalthe width of the lower permanent central multiplied by the factor of1.2287. The upper permanent lateral may also be determined bymultiplying the upper central by the factor of 0.7631. Therefore, if anupper lateral may be peg-shaped or with smaller laterals, thesecalculations of the lateral may give the amount that a normal sizedlateral should be with bonding to make an undersized lateral looknormal.

The system 10 may also calculate other dental conditions. For example,overbite, defined by a vertical overlap of the front incisors, may bedetermined. The overbite may be measured from a point on the incisaledge of the upper deciduous or permanent upper central to a point on theedge of the lower deciduous and/or the permanent lower central incisorlocated parallel to the occlusal plane. This may provide an overbitemeasure. The CPU 20 may access information in the database 55 to obtainthe parameters to estimate future problems for the overbite and/or torecommend treatment.

Open-bite may also be measured. Additional records may be recommendedfor any incidence of open-bite, with the exception of a skeletalopen-bite. Open-bites due to habits may also warrant a strong indicationfor the full records assessment and/or possible treatment.

Overjet is defined by the horizontal distance from the upper deciduousor permanent central to the lower deciduous or permanent centralparallel to the occlusal plane. The CPU 20 may measure the overjet fromthe incisal edge of the upper central incisor to the lower centralincisor incisal edge measured parallel to the occlusal plane. The CPU 20may access information in the database 55 to obtain the parameters toestimate future problems for the overjet and/or to recommend treatment.

Further, a Class III relation may be measured. The Class III relationmay occur when the upper deciduous or permanent central as well as theother upper incisors may be behind the lower deciduous or permanentincisors known as skeletal Class III or in an end-to-end relation.Pseudo Class III may occur when the lower jaw may slip forward aftercontact in an end-to-end position.

The system 10 may measure from the incisal edge of the lower deciduousor permanent central to the edge of the same deciduous or permanentincisor on the upper parallel to the occlusal plane. Any end-to-end orClass III relation regardless of severity may indicate a strongrecommendation for records and/or the possibility for treatment.

Cross-bites may be measured. For example, the professional may indicatewhether an anterior or posterior cross-bite may exist. The CPU 20 mayalso determine the cross-bite. The CPU 20 may access information in thedatabase 55 to indicate to the parent if a cross-bite may be present,the type of cross-bite, front, rear or both and/or the treatmentrecommendations.

TMJ problems may be indicated. For example, the professional may reportany problems with TMJ, and a report to the parent of the patient may begenerated. The CPU 20 may access information in the database 55 toindicate to the parent if the TMJ may be present and/or the treatmentrecommendations.

The professional may also determine habits of the patient and/or toindicate any problem to the parent. For example, thumb sucking habits,which may cause weak teeth, abnormal swallowing, narrow palate and mouthbreathing, may be treated. Speech problems may also require treatment.Suspected sleep disordered breathing may be warrant a recommendation tocontact a pediatrician and/or a sleep specialist.

In addition, the professional may examine the width of the upper arch tosee if the upper arch may appear narrow. The CPU 20 may locate points inthe center of the posterior teeth including the upper canine tips, thecenter of the premolars, the deciduous molars and the permanent molars.The CPU 20 may access information in the database 55 to obtain theparameters to indicate the upper arch width and the abnormal amountsthat may warrant expansion in a child patient. If a severe narrowing ofthe maxilla may be seen particularly with crowded incisors at six yearsof age to eight years of age, together with nasal breathing problems, arapid palatal expansion appliance may be recommended. This appliance,with the same symptoms, may be recommended up to about twelve years ofage to fourteen years of age, with care taken if the mid-sagittal suturehas closed, particularly in females. For males, the appliance may berecommended for patients of about fourteen years of age to sixteen yearsof age.

The CPU 20 may provide the document as shown in FIG. 6 with the findingsfor the parent to study. The document may be produced at end of theinitial exam. The CPU 20 may summarize what may be considered beyondnormal of any of the above eight items and briefly explain why the fullrecords assessment and probable treatment may be recommended, treatmenttime, the responsibility of the parent and/or the patient, the feeinvolved, possible success, any possible relapse and pictures what teethmay look like if no treatment may be done.

The CPU 20 may present the findings to the parent of the patient in thedocument together with a document of the initial diagnostic findings ofthe system 10. The document may summarize the various problems a childmay have, namely crowding, overbite, overjet, cross-bite, TMJ, habitsand suspected sleep-disordered breathing problems and a narrow upperarch.

Information regarding cross-bites may be input by the initial examiningperson or determined by the CPU 20, however, such symptoms as varioushabits present, or headaches, temporomandibular joint clicking, deviatedopening and difficulty in chewing may be input by the examiningindividual but printed out by the CPU 20 in the same way as crowding,overbite and overjet. As a result, an initial examination may indicateto the patient and/or the parent, within about ten minutes, an unbiased,objective diagnosis with minimal variation and/or an analysis of theeight major components of a malocclusion.

As a result, the patient and/or the parent of the patient may have anextensive report regarding the problems present with the relativeseverity, percentage of incidence, future predictions of development andwhat effect treatment may have in the future. The patient and/or theparent may have an understanding of the dental problems and may be ableto make an educated decision regarding treatment options presented. TheCPU 20 may also provide the fee and the length of treatment for eachcondition for the patient. The CPU 20 may provide relapse informationand/or treatment stability information.

The document from the CPU 20 may summarize these factors as to whetherthe measure may be normal or abnormal, the incidence of occurrence, andthe percentage risk for being a problem at a future time, such as bytwelve years of age, by eighteen years of age and/or by some other age.The document may provide what the initially-measured amount may beexpected to be in the future, whether any treatment may not berecommended, may be minimally recommended, or may be stronglyrecommended. The document may provide an indication of whether a futureanalysis may be recommended and/or whether treatment may be recommended.The document may provide the fee for the treatment, an estimated lengthof the treatment and the estimated success of the treatment.

If the patient or parent may decide to proceed with the treatment, thepatient may have the full records assessment. This analysis may havepanoramic x-ray films and cephalometric x-ray films or a 3-D x-ray filmtaken and analyzed by the CPU 20 program. Other factors such as aproblematic gummy smile, sleep problems which involve a questionnairefor the parent to fill out involving several associated factors such assnoring incidence, hyperactivity, attention deficit, restless sleep,poor school performance, daytime sleepiness, mouth breathing, toothgrinding, bed wetting and several other commonly associated problemsthat may indicate sleep-disordered breathing and sleep apnea, swellingof the tonsils and adenoids and speech problems may be also checked bythe professional. The professional may enter the information into theCPU 20 for analysis and to produce an informative review of the variousproblems. If necessary, the problems may require orthodontic treatmentconsideration or a referral to a pediatrician or sleep specialist, forexample.

Several other factors may be observed and/or reported by theprofessional, such as, for example, impacted or missing teeth observedon x-ray films, thickness of the mandibular body, any evidence of rootresorption, various measures from a cephalometric film such as measureof basion to points A and B and the SNA, SNB, ANB, mandibular planeangle, face height measures, and measures of the nasopharyngeal andoropharyngeal width and volume. If any canines that were measured for acanine-to-canine distance may be displaced from their normal positioneither labially, lingually or forward or posteriorly that wouldadversely affect the arch curvature where the teeth may be located. Anyunusually shaped teeth such as double incisors or undersized orpeg-shaped upper lateral incisors, midline relations. Many of theselandmarks may be positions of teeth, presence or absence of variousteeth, unusual shapes of teeth and the various landmarks, angles andlinear cephalometric measures may be identified and measured by the CPU20 to eliminate variation caused by human errors in identification.

As shown in FIG. 2, step 120 illustrates Program B of the method 100.The method 100 may have the initial assessment and/or the full recordsassessment. As shown in FIG. 2, step 125 of the method 100 may be thefull records assessment for a patient that may be within the age rangefor Program B.

In the full records assessment for Program B, the professional may taketwo x-ray films. For example, a digital panoramic x-ray film of thepatient and/or a lateral digital cephalometric x-ray film may be taken.Also, a 3-D film may be taken that may replace the digital panoramicx-ray film of the patient and the lateral digital cephalometric x-rayfilm.

In the full records assessment for Program B, the professional mayperform an oral examination that may check the freeway space of thepatient. The professional may either mark a point on the nose of thepatient and on the bottom of the chin of the patient. The professionalmay physically measure the distance at rest and again at occlusion. Inan embodiment, the CPU 20 may also indicate the point on the nose andchin and a digitized image may be taken with the wand 45 with thepatient at rest and also at occlusion. The CPU 20 may measure thedistance and may subtract one from the other to obtain the amount of thefreeway space. Any patient with an excessive freeway space, such asseven mm or more, for example, may be checked for a lateral posteriortongue thrust and may require an additional removable appliance.

The CPU 20 may locate a point in the lower level of the upper lip and atthe gingival tissue line on the crown of the upper central incisor,either deciduous or permanent. A measurement may be made of the amountof gingival display or gummy smile showing during a high smile. Anypatient with a gummy smile of more than two mm may have a gummy smile bytwelve years of age. A gummy smile of three mm at six years of age willhave a one mm gummy smile at twelve years; however the Nite-Guide®appliance may be able to prevent three mm of a gummy smile. Anydeciduous overbite of two mm, for example, if added to the three mm ofgummy smile may prevent that amount of gummy smile. Therefore, three mmof improvement added to the deciduous overbite may equal the amount ofgummy smile that may be prevented. For example, a three mm improvementplus a two mm deciduous overbite may equal a five mm total of gummysmile that may be prevented.

If a posterior cross-bite may be present, the professional may determineif the posterior cross-bite may be a functional or a dental cross-bite.The professional may enter the information into the system 10 using theUI 30. The CPU 20 may recommend a type of treatment. For example, with afunctional cross-bite, bilateral expansion may be recommended. With adental cross-bite, an Occlus-o-Guide® appliance with placement of across-bite wire may be recommended.

The professional may analyze the panoramic x-ray film to determine ifany unerupted permanent teeth may be missing. The professional mayindicate any missing teeth on the dentition chart 200. If teeth may bemissing, the CPU 20 may determine if any premolars may be missing and/orwhether treatment may be possible. If severe crowding of greater thanfour mm may exist, a bumper with the Occlus-o-Guide® appliance may beused. If crowding of greater than eight mm may exist, the professionalmay refer the patient to a specialist for possible fixed treatment. Ifseveral teeth may be missing, the CPU 20 may refer the patient to aspecialist for fixed treatment. If any teeth may be erupting in wrongposition and/or may have root resorption, or if any cysts, abscesses,extra teeth and/or any other unusual problems may be present, theprofessional may decide on extraction of extra teeth and/or othertreatments.

The professional may analyze the cephalometric/x-ray film. Severallandmark points may be located by the CPU 20 and/or may be identified bythe professional. The following landmark points may be located by theCPU 20: basion, sella, nasion, points A, B, ANS, Menton, gnathion,condilion, porion, orbitale, PNS, long axis of upper and lower centralincisors. Various measurements may be made on the size of airway at twodistances from the uvula to the posterior wall of the nasopharynx andfrom the base of the tongue to the posterior wall of the oropharynx. TheCPU 20 may access information in the database 55 to compare thesemeasurements to norms for normal and abnormal amounts. The CPU 20 mayindicate if the airway may be normal or abnormal using the informationfrom the database 55 and/or may recommend reasons for treatment.Further, standard cephalometric analyses may be performed by the CPU 20.Also, the professional may perform other analyses, such as NorthwesternReidel, Downs, Steiner, Sassouni, Harvold, Wits, Rickets, McNamaraand/or others, as desired.

The overbite and overjet may be measured in the same way as before, andtreatment may be recommended. The adenoid tissue may be estimated ifsignificantly swollen. If the adenoid tissue may be swollen, the patientmay be referred to a specialist. If upper canine angulation may beexcessively abnormal, the professional may recommend a fixed orthodonticappliance treatment procedure.

The professional may determine the number of permanent incisal brokencontacts observed prior to their eruption. Typically, three or moreindicate a strong recommendation for treatment. For example, one brokencontact may equal −1.1 mm crowding; two broken contacts may equal −1.7mm; three broken contacts may equal −2.8 mm; four broken contacts mayequal −4.0 mm; and five broken contacts may equal −5.1 mm of crowding.

If any of the above problems from the final records assessment mayindicate that the treatment recommendation due to multiple missingteeth, root resorption, improper angulation of upper canines and/orimpacted teeth cannot be rectified with a bumper and an Occlus-o-Guide®appliance, the professional may refuse treatment and may recommend afixed orthodontic appliance treatment procedure.

In the full records assessment, the professional may determine theskeletal age of the patient and may know the chronological age of thepatient. The CPU 20 may calculate the predicted height of the patientusing information from the database 55 and may also predict the growthin height expected each year. The percentage increase in height for eachfollowing year may also be accessed from the database 55 by the CPU 20.The percentage multiplied by the predicted height may give the heightincrease for each year to maturity.

Moreover, the profile of the patient may be oriented on the profiletemplate analysis shown in FIGS. 15 and 16 using the appropriatetemplate according to the N-Me distance of the patient. Certain areas ofthe profile may be abnormal, such as recessive lips, protrusive nose,receding chin, long vertical face, short upper lip and/or long chin.Such areas may fall outside of template margins. The normal profilecharacteristics, such as the forehead and the upper part of the nose maybe kept within the template margins. The CPU 20 may provide a visualtracing of the profile of the patient within the template that may showwhat ideally may be corrected. The proper treatment, such as advancementof the mandible, retraction of protrusive teeth, lengthening of theface, and/or the like, may be recommended and may be watched to try andachieve proper treatment goals.

A report of any findings from the full records assessment may bereported to the parent of the patient as before. The CPU 20 may generatea document to the parent of the patient describing the abnormal symptomsand treatment recommendations.

As shown in FIG. 2, step 130 illustrates Program C of the method 100.Program C may be designed for children and/or patients ranging in agefrom five years of age to seven years of age. Program C may beconfigured to relate to the dentition and/or oral development ofpatients in this range. In particular, patients in this age range mayhave mixed dentition. Thus, Program C may correlate the initialassessment and/or examinations of the patient to the specific age of thepatient. The correlated initial assessment may focus the initialassessment on the current state of development of the patient. Certainassessments may not be indicated for the age range in Program C.However, other assessments may be critical at the current state ofdevelopment of the patient. To this end, Program C may be performed asset forth hereinafter.

The system 10 and/or the method 100 may have the initial examinationand/or assessment. The full records assessment may also be required. Thepatient may undergo the initial examination by the professional. Thesystem 10 and/or the method 100 may generate the preliminary and/orinitial assessment and/or diagnosis based upon the initial examinationof the patient. The system 10 and/or the method 100 may provide such anassessment and/or diagnosis prior to the full records assessment.

In an embodiment, any one of the following problems may be require atreatment recommendation and/or the full records assessment shown instep 135 of FIG. 2. The problems may be as follows:

-   -   1. Crowding/spacing in which a lower arch and an upper arch        length analysis may be performed to determine whether the        patient may be a candidate for treatment. Other problems, such        as, for example, displaced teeth with space shortage, missing        teeth and various other problems may be examined and noted by        the professional.    -   2. Overbite greater than one and one quarter mm and/or an open        bite of any severity    -   3. Overjet greater than one and one quarter mm) and/or a Class        III relation of any severity including zero mm which may be an        end-to-end or pseudo Class III relation    -   4. Cross-bites of any severity    -   5. TMJ having any two symptoms except for limited opening    -   6. Habits such as, for example, thumb sucking, swallowing,        speech problems and/or mouth breathing    -   7. Suspected sleep-disordered breathing problems    -   8. Narrow upper arch

The system 10 and/or the method 100 may generate the document for thepatient. The document may summarize whether any of the above eight itemsmay be problems that may be considered beyond normal. The document mayalso explain why the full records assessment and/or probable treatmentmay be recommended. The document may contain the treatment timerequired, the patient responsibility, any fee involved, probabilities ofsuccess, any possible relapse. The document may have pictures that mayillustrate what the teeth may look like without performing anytreatment.

The CPU 20 may generate and/or may print the document for the parent ofthe patient with findings for the parent to consider and/or study. Forexample, the document may be configured as shown in FIG. 6. The documentmay be generated after the initial assessment 105 may be performed instep 130 of Program C of the method 100 and prior to step 135 in whichthe full records assessment may be conducted.

Further, the professional may examine the dentition of the patient andmay indicate findings on a more detailed dentition chart 205 as shown inFIG. 4. For example, the professional may determine whether the teethpresent may be only deciduous except for the first permanent molars. Ifso, the professional may determine whether the lower deciduous incisorsmay be straight with no crowding and no spacing. The professional mayalso determine whether any permanent teeth may be present. If so, theprofessional may examine the patient and indicate them on the dentitionchart 205.

The professional may also determine whether the upper central incisorsand/or the lateral permanent incisors, if present, may be linguallyinclined. The professional also may determine whether the tips of theupper canines and the lower canines may be in an improper position. Ifso, the professional may indicate where the improper canine tip shouldbe positioned. The professional may determine whether any permanent ordeciduous teeth may be crooked and/or missing and if there may be enoughroom for them. The professional may indicate the observations on thedentition chart 205. In a like manner to Program B, the professional mayperform the decay check, an open-bite check, a Class III relation check,a cross-bite check, a habit check and/or a dentition check.

The system 10 may identify various landmarks after the professional mayscan the dentition. The CPU 20 also may identify landmarks from ascanned study cast of dentition or the professional may personallyidentify the landmarks by hand. Using the wand 45 of the IC 40 to scanthe mouth of the patient may provide a digitized dentition that may bemore reliable, consistent and unbiased. The following landmarks may beidentified:

-   -   a) an upper incisal edge and/or a lower incisal edge of one        central incisor that may be same tooth on the same side;    -   b) mesial of the upper deciduous canines and/or the lower        deciduous canines or permanent canines, if erupted;    -   c) mesial and distal of all four upper permanent incisors if all        may be present, if not, use the permanent teeth that may be        present in mouth and the four lower permanent incisors;    -   d) tip of the cusp of the upper canines and the lower canines if        in proper position. If a canine may be in an improper position,        mark the top in the proper position labially-lingually, not        mesio-distally; and    -   e) distal of the deciduous or permanent canines and distal of        upper and lower of the deciduous molar or the mesial of first        permanent molar if deciduous second molar may be missing or may        have decay with a loss of space.

The CPU 20 may perform a lower arch length analysis. For example, thetip of the lower canine to the tip of other lower canine may bemultiplied by a factor from the database according to the age of thepatient may be the available space of lower incisor area. Also, thesystem 10 and/or the CPU 20 may measure the available space for thelower permanent incisors by multiplying the mesial-distal width of lowercentral by four and adding one. Also, the widths of all four lowerpermanent incisors may be measured, if all may be present. Depending onthe age of the patient, the CPU 20 may access the database 55 to predictfuture crowding, future risks and treatment recommendations. Forexample, the information specific to the age of the patient may bepresented to parent.

The CPU 20 may access the database 55 for information on mandibulartreatment possibilities to determine what crowding severities may beappropriate for treatment and the associated fees that may be charged.The information may be based upon which teeth are present. Theinformation may provide multiple treatment possibilities, such as, onlyusing the Occlus-o-Guide® appliance; using the Occlus-o-Guide® appliancewith stripping both deciduous lower second molars; and using theOcclus-o-Guide® appliance with stripping the deciduous first lower molarand/or the second lower molar and using a bumper. The information fromthe database 55 may also indicate the point at which the case may be toosevere and may recommend a fixed orthodontic appliance treatmentprocedure. Further information in the database 55 may provide treatmentoptions when certain upper permanent incisors may be present. Moreover,information in the database 55 may provide treatment options if bothsecond deciduous molars may be present; if only one second deciduousmolar may be present; and if both second deciduous molars may be missingand the leeway space may have already closed. Such a case may require anOrtho-T® appliance adult dentition case.

Most cases may be determined diagnostically on whether to treat by thecrowding of the lower arch and if there may be sufficient room forsuccessful treatment. However, in some cases in which the upper may bethe determiner, the lower arch length analysis may be done by the CPU 20first. If the case may be an acceptable case, the CPU 20 may determineif the upper arch length analysis and/or the result may be acceptable ornot. If either the lower or upper arch length analysis may indicate thatthe case may be an unacceptable one, the professional may recommend afixed orthodontic appliance treatment procedure. The orthodontist mayrecommend fixed orthodontics.

The CPU 20 may perform an upper arch-length analysis for the incisalarea. The first procedure may be to measure the tip of the upper canineto the tip of the other canine and multiply this measurement by a factorof 0.9932 to determine the upper available space. The upper canines maybe required to be in the proper position for an available spacemeasurement. If the canine tip may be in an abnormal position, theprofessional may enter the proper position of the canine in the CPU 20using the UI 30. To obtain the upper required space, several options maybe available depending on the presence or absence of the upper permanentincisors. An upper permanent incisor may preferably be used to obtainthe required space if the tooth may be available to measure. Forexample, the width of upper permanent central incisor may be multipliedby a factor of 3.5212 to obtain the upper required space. Also, the sumof the widths of all four upper permanent incisors may be used to obtainthe upper required space. Further, if no upper permanent incisors may bepresent, the width of the lower permanent central incisor may bemultiplied by a factor of 5.6776. The required space may be subtractedfrom the available space to obtain the required space.

The amount of crowding that may be corrected may depend on whether theupper deciduous second molars may be present, if one may be present, orneither may be present with the leeway space closed. When both deciduousupper molars may not be present, the case may be diagnosed as an adultdentition in Program D for patients of twelve years of age to eighteenyears of age. The CPU 20 may access information in the database 55 toindicate the upper crowding severity that may be corrected when bothdeciduous upper molars may be present.

The CPU 20 may access information in the database 55 regarding theamounts of correction possible with both deciduous upper molars and withonly one upper deciduous molar present. The information may provide theamounts that may not be corrected. If the upper permanent incisorsand/or the lower permanent incisors may be lingually-inclined, theappliance may tip the teeth forward to increase the crowding correctionby one mm to two mm. The amount of correction may depend on whether oneupper second deciduous molar and/or two upper second deciduous molarsmay be present in cases with lingually inclined upper incisors. Theinformation may be presented to the parent of the patient. The database55 may also provide information regarding the amounts of correctionpossible with both deciduous upper molars and/or with only one upperdeciduous molar present. The information may provide the amounts thatmay not be corrected. The treatment may be with or without an additionalappliance like a bumper.

If all four or less upper permanent incisors are fully erupted, all fourupper permanent incisors and/or the erupted upper permanent incisors maybe measured. The upper required space may be the total mesial-distalwidths of the four upper permanent incisors. If any or part of the upperpermanent incisors may be in place, the required space may be determinedby the dimensions of the upper permanent incisors rather than the widthof the lower permanent central incisor.

The system 10 may also calculate other dental conditions. In anembodiment, the CPU 20 may compare measurements with information in thedatabase 55. For example, FIGS. 13-16 illustrate information related tocrowding, overbite and overjet. For example, overbite may be determined.The CPU 20 may measure the overbite described in Program B. The CPU 20may access information in the database 55 to obtain the parameters toestimate future problems for the overbite and/or to recommend treatment.The information may be given to the parent as in Program B.

An open-bite, if present, may be measured according to Program B. If theopen-bite may be skeletal, the case may be not acceptable and may bereferred for fixed orthodontic treatment and/or surgery. The CPU 20 mayaccess the database 55 for information that may indicate at what agevarious severities of open-bite may be appropriate for correction.Generally, open-bites caused by current or previous habits, such asthumb-sucking and/or improper swallowing may not be recommended fortreatment for patients over ten years of age. Any patient with anopen-bite with an N-Me distance exceeding two S.D. may be not acandidate for treatment.

Overjet may be measured according to Program B. The CPU 20 may accessinformation in the database 55 to determine whether treatment may berecommended according to the age of a patient. The incidence of overjet,together with the other factors, may be presented to the parent in aletter with the data for the patient. The data for treatment time andretention time may be found in the information from the database 55.

Class III and Pseudo Class III malocclusions may be measured accordingto Program B. Treatment for any cross-bite may be indicated for patientsfrom seven years of age to twelve years of age. Pseudo Class III typecross-bites may be easily correctible from seven years of age to twelveyears of age. Skeletal Class III problems may be determined as inProgram B. Generally, any skeletal Class III problem not exceeding threemm may be minimized and/or may be prevented from becoming more severewith a Youth Class III appliance, for example.

Cross-bites may be observed by the professional as in Program B. The CPU20 may access information in the database 55 to determine if themaxillary arch width may be considered abnormally narrow. If themaxillary arch width may be expanded, particularly if there may be across-bite and/or upper respiratory breathing problems, treatment may berecommended.

TMJ problems may be identified as in Program B. The same treatmentrecommendations may exist for the patient of seven years of age totwelve years of age as for younger patients. Information from thedatabase 55 corresponding to the age of the patient may be used forestimations of treatment recommendations to present to the parent. TMJproblems may be corrected with removable appliances as long as anoverjet and overbite exist. When the patient opens and closes from anend-to end position, the symptoms such as clicking and difficulty inopening may disappear. If so, the appliance may be used. If not, thepatient may be referred to a TMJ specialist. Most cases may be treatedwith a removable appliance such as the Nite-Guide® appliance andOcclus-o-Guide® appliance.

Habits such as thumb sucking and/or finger sucking may be corrected.However, abnormal swallowing may be difficult to correct for a patientolder than ten years of age and may be referred for orthodontictreatment by a specialist. Sleep problems may be outlined as in ProgramB.

The CPU 20 may present the findings to the parent of the patient in theinitial letter together with the document of the initial diagnosticfindings of the system 10. An example of the document of the findingsmay be similar to that shown in FIG. 6. The document may summarize thevarious problems a child may have, namely crowding, overbite, overjet,cross-bite, TMJ, habits and suspected sleep-disordered breathingproblems and a narrow upper arch.

The CPU 20 may print out the document outlining these various eightelements of the dentition of the patient that may be from seven years ofage to twelve years of age for the initial assessment. The full recordsassessment may be conducted to determine problems beyond the initialexam. For example, missing teeth, various impactions, and impropereruption paths of the incoming permanent teeth and/or the like maywarrant a contradiction for the early mixed dentition therapy.

In an embodiment, the system 10 and/or the method 100 may also encompassthe full records assessment of Program C as shown in step 135 of FIG. 2.As part of the full records assessment, the professional may take x-raysof the patient. For example, the x-rays may contain a digital panoramicx-ray film of the patient, a lateral digital cephalometric x-ray film,and/or one 3-D x-ray film. The 3-D x-ray film may be preferred sincedetails may be clearer to see in such an x-ray. The imaging in the fullrecords assessment may contain intra-oral and/or facial photographs. Theprofessional may analyze the panoramic film and/or the 3-D film, ifavailable, as part of the full records assessment. The panoramic filmand/or the 3-D film may be analyzed by the system 10 and/or the method100. For example, the CPU 20 may analyze the panoramic film and/or the3-D film to ensure that all unerupted teeth may be present. Theprofessional may also perform this review. If any permanent teeth may bemissing, the missing teeth may be charted. The relative placement of thedentition may be organized on the dentition chart 205 as shown on FIG.4. The erupted teeth may be indicated on the dentition chart 205. Theprofessional may also take a hand and wrist x-ray film of the left handfor assistance in determining skeletal age of the patient.

The professional may perform an oral examination of the patient as partof the full records assessment. The professional may check the freewayspace. The CPU 20 may also measure the freeway space by using two imagesof the face. The CPU 20 may analyze the panoramic film and/or the 3-Dfilm to make determine whether all unerupted teeth may be present. Theprofessional may perform this task. Further, the professional may checkthe unerupted teeth to determine whether the teeth may be erupting inthe right position.

The professional may determine any rotations. The system 10 may measurecertain areas of the nasopharynx and oropharynx. The CPU 20 may accessthe database 55 to determine whether the measurements may have anyabnormalities. The professional may not any root resorption and/or maycheck the size of the adenoids. The professional may enter theinformation into the system 10 using the UI 30. The system 10 maydetermine the skeletal age of the patient and may be used to time anytreatment required to occur at various ages including the start of thepubertal spurt. For example, the CPU 20 may access data, such as theinformation shown in FIGS. 7-9. Further, the professional may follow thesame format of the examination as in Program B.

In addition, the CPU 20 may use the mesial-distal widths of the upperincisors and/or the lower incisors and may divide the upper total by thelower total to obtain a ratio. The ratio may indicate if the upperincisors and the lower incisors may be coordinated to provide an idealocclusion of the front teeth following correction. An acceptable ratioof the lower incisors to upper incisors for a male patient may be73.735% and may be 74.1762% for a female patient. The standard Boltonanalysis for the male patient which may total the six anterior teethdivided into the widths of the six lower anterior teeth may be 78.4339%for the male patient and may be 78.125% for the female patient.

The system 10 may provide the document to the parent and/or the patientthat may indicate problems noted initially and during the recordassessments. The document may have information from the films, theskeletal age of the patient, the predicted adult height and/or thegrowth in height each year to full maturity.

Also, the profile analysis with the profile of the patient superimposedover profile templates, such as the profile template illustrated in FIG.10 for a female patient. A profile template corresponding to a malepatient may also be provided and/or used, as desired. The document mayhave sample pictures of other similar cases with such problems ascrowding, excessive overbites, overjets, open bites and the like thatmay show what the various problems may look like at twelve years of ageif no treatment is initiated.

An appliance may be recommended for the patient. The size of theappliance may be calculated by the CPU 20 with access to the database55. The system 10 may also provide the document that may explain theinitial data as well as any data learned from the x-ray records.

As shown in FIG. 2, step 140 illustrates Program D of the method 100.Program D may be designed for children and/or patients ranging fromtwelve years of age to eighteen years of age. Program D may beconfigured to relate to the dentition and/or oral development ofpatients in this range. In particular, patients in this age range mayhave early permanent dentition. Thus, Program D may correlate theinitial assessment and/or examinations of the patient to the specificage of the patient. The correlated initial assessment may focus theinitial assessment on the current state of development of the patient.Certain assessments may not be indicated for the age range in Program D.However, other assessments may be critical at the current state ofdevelopment of the patient. To this end, Program D may be performed asset forth hereinafter.

The system 10 and/or the method 100 may have the initial examinationand/or assessment. The full records assessment may also be required. Thepatient may undergo the initial examination by the professional. Thesystem 10 and/or the method 100 may generate a preliminary and/orinitial assessment and/or diagnosis based upon the initial examinationof the patient. The system 10 and/or the method 100 may provide such anassessment and/or diagnosis prior to the full records assessment.

In an embodiment, any one of the following problems may require atreatment recommendation and/or the full records assessment shown instep 145 of FIG. 2. The problems may be as follows:

-   -   1. Crowding/spacing in which a lower arch and an upper arch        length analysis may be performed to determine whether the        patient may be a candidate for treatment. Other problems, such        as, for example, displaced teeth with space shortage, missing        teeth and various other problems may be examined and noted by        the professional.    -   2. Overbite greater than one and one quarter mm and/or an open        bite of any severity    -   3. Overjet greater than one and one quarter mm and/or a Class        III relation of any severity including zero mm which may be an        end-to-end or pseudo Class III relation    -   4. Cross-bites of any severity    -   5. TMJ having any two symptoms except for limited opening    -   6. Habits such as, for example, thumb sucking, swallowing,        speech problems and/or mouth breathing    -   7. Suspected sleep-disordered breathing problems    -   8. Narrow upper arch

The system 10 and/or the method 100 CPU 20 may generate the document forthe patient. The document may summarize whether any of the above eightitems may be problems that may be considered beyond normal. The documentmay also explain why the full records assessment and/or probabletreatment may be recommended. The document may contain the treatmenttime required, the patient responsibility, any fee involved,probabilities of success, any possible relapse and pictures what theteeth may look like without performing any treatment.

The CPU 20 may generate and/or print the document to the parent of thepatient with findings for the parent to consider and/or study as shownin FIG. 6. The document may be generated after the initial examination.

The professional may examine the patient and enter the information onthe UI 30 which may display the information on the monitor 35. Forexample, the examination may determine which teeth may be present and/ormay be missing and may be indicated on the dentition chart 205. Theexamination may determine whether sufficient room for the tooth or teethexists and/or whether crowding may be present. Further, the examinationmay determine whether the upper centrals and/or laterals may belingually inclined; whether the canine tips may be in an improperposition; and whether any teeth may be rotated and/or out of alignment.The examination may provide a decay check, if needed, as found inprogram B. Moreover, the examination may determine if the patient mayhave an open-bite, an excessively long face and/or a Class III problem.The examination may have the same TMJ check and/or habit check as inProgram B.

Any lower crowding may be determined by an arch length analysis of thelower arch. The sum of the widths of the four or six lower front teethmay equal the required space. The available space may be thecircumference around the lower arch along the incisal edges of the lowerfour anterior teeth or six anterior teeth. The distance either from themesial of one canine to the other canine for an arch length analysis ofonly the incisors, or if the canines may be included, the distance maybe from the distal of one canine to the distal of the other canine. Ifthe crowding may be only in the incisal area, the shorter distance maybe used between the canines. If the canines may be also crowded, thearch length analysis would include the canines. In either case themeasurement may be the available space of the lower arch.

The required space may be subtracted from the available space to obtainthe shortage, excess or normal arch. The crowding and/or spacing may becompared to information from the database 55 depending on the age of thepatient. The information may be presented to the patient or the parentof the patient.

The upper arch length analysis may be done in the same manner. Treatmentfor an arch shortage in the upper arch of one half mm may be optionallyrecommended. Treatment for crowding of one mm or more may be recommendedfor a patient from twelve years of age to eighteen years of age. Thetreatment possibilities for crowding and/or spacing for the upper archand/or the lower arch may be provided in the information in the database55.

An analysis may be performed to determine if the upper incisors and thelower incisors may be coordinated to produce an ideal incisal occlusionas in Program C. If the coordination ratio indicates one arch may bedifferent from the other, such as the upper may be smaller due tosmaller upper laterals, the width estimate of the laterals may beobtained from the information in the database 55. A composite may beadded to the smaller laterals to make the laterals a normal size.

Further, anterior spacing may be corrected. If there may be no overjetor a minimum overjet of up to two mm or three mm, the patient mayrequire some bonding. If there may be an overjet of four mm or more, thespaces may typically be closed by using the Ortho-T® appliance. Also,overbites of any severity may be corrected provided sufficient verticalgrowth (ANS-Me) may remain. Typically, one mm of lower face heightgrowth may be required to stabilize every mm of overbite correction. Thedatabase 55 may provide information as to what severity of overbite maybe successfully corrected with minimal relapse as well as the amount ofrelapse that may be expected according to the age of the patient. A moreaccurate estimate may result if the skeletal age of the patient may beused instead of chronological age. The information may indicate how muchvertical growth ANS-Me may be needed for successful overbite correctionwithout future relapse. The information may also indicate the amount ofexpected relapse that may occur typically in a treated overbite.

Open-bites at twelve years of age and over may be difficult to treatsuccessfully. Therefore, such patients may be referred for fixedorthodontic treatment or surgery, as appropriate. Overjet according tothe severity and the age of the patient may be estimated from theinformation in the database 55. Also, the information may indicate whichoverjets may be appropriate for treatment and the amount of relapse thatmay be avoided. Mandibular prognathism such as Class III and pseudoClass III occlusions may be indicated in the initial examination.Generally, skeletal Class III malocclusions may not be appropriate casesafter twelve years of age; however, minor Class III cases of less thanthree mm may be helped by a Class III appliance that may be capable ofimproving or at least minimizing the severity of the problem. PseudoClass III end-to-end occlusions may be corrected with the Ortho-T®appliance.

Cross-bites may be correctable as long as space exists or may beprovided, for example, with a bumper for proper correction. TMJ problemsmay be treatable with the exception of closed-lock and/or limitedopening problems. Information from the database 55 may indicate ifgrowth remains to advance the mandible sufficiently to accommodate theforward advancements of the mandible. Also, the information may indicatethe growth remaining to accommodate vertical changes. For example, ifthe mandible may be advanced three mm and opened three mm to correct theclicking and opening deviation, then three mm of horizontal and verticalgrowth may be required to obtain a permanent result. This amount ofgrowth may be obtained anytime up to fifteen years of age in a malepatient and anytime up through twelve years of age in a female patientfor this vertical amount of three mm. The horizontal growth on the otherhand may be achieved anytime up through seventeen years of age in themale patient and anytime up through fourteen years in the femalepatient. If these amounts may be not achievable, such as in the case ofa patient of eighteen years of age, the appliance may be requiredindefinitely as a retainer. For example, the Ortho-T® appliance may beworn as a retainer one night per week to prevent symptoms from returningin the future.

Habits such as thumb-sucking may be corrected at any age.Mouth-breathing may be more easily corrected at younger ages of tenyears of age and younger; however, after the patient may have reachedtwelve years of age, the habits may also be possible to correct. Tonsiland adenoid enlargement may be a frequent cause of mouth breathing.Thus, removal of the tonsil and/or the adenoid followed by using theOrtho-T® appliance may be a successful treatment. Tongue-thrustswallowing problems may be difficult to successfully treat in patientsolder than ten years of age and may be a contraindication for this formof treatment at twelve years of age or older.

Sleep-disordered breathing not caused by apnea or hypopnea may besuccessfully treated by either enlargement of the upper arch and/or byadvancing the mandible and tongue with a Habit-Corrector® appliance (aregistered trademark of Ortho-Tain, Inc.) and/or the Ortho-T® appliance.The upper arch enlargement may improve the opening of the nasopharynx,while mandibular advancement may improve the narrow oropharynx.

Narrowed upper arch widths may be analyzed. Upper arches that may beexcessively narrow that exceed the abnormal limits may be alsoaccompanied by breathing problems, particularly those withnasopharyngeal narrowing. The full records assessment with thecephalometric x-ray and/or the 3-D film may indicate treatment may betreated with upper arch expansion.

The CPU 20 may provide the document to the parent summarizing thefindings in the initial examination regarding the eight various elementsof the dentition of the patient. The patient may require the fullrecords assessment with the three x-ray films to verify if treatment maybe recommended. Also, a skeletal age determination and a prediction ofthe start of the pubertal growth spurt may be performed.

In an embodiment, the system 10 and/or the method 100 may also encompassthe full records assessment of Program D as shown in step 145 of FIG. 2.As part of the full records assessment, the professional may take x-raysof the patient. For example, the x-rays may contain a digital panoramicx-ray film of the patient, a lateral digital cephalometric x-ray film,and/or one 3-D x-ray film. The 3-D x-ray film may be preferred sincedetails may be clearer to see in such an x-ray. The imaging in the fullrecords assessment may contain intra-oral and/or facial photographs. Theprofessional may analyze the panoramic film and/or the 3-D film, ifavailable, as part of the full records assessment. The panoramic filmand/or the 3-D film may be analyzed by the system 10 and/or the method100. For example, the CPU 20 may analyze the panoramic film and/or the3-D film to ensure that all unerupted teeth may be present. Theprofessional may also perform this review. If any permanent teeth may bemissing, the missing teeth may be charted. The relative placement of thedentition may be organized on the dentition chart 205 as shown on FIG.4. The erupted teeth may be indicated on the dentition chart 205.

The professional may take a hand and wrist x-ray film of the left handas in Program C to assist in determining skeletal age of the patient.The oral examination may involve a check of the freeway space. Theprofessional may either mark a point on the nose and the bottom of thechin and may hand measure the distance at rest and again at occlusion.The CPU 20 may also measure the distance and may take two photographs ofthe face of the patient. The CPU 20 may also measure the A, B, ANS,Menton, gnathion, articulare, porion, orbitale, PNS and the long axis ofupper central incisors and the lower central incisors. Also, variousmeasurements may be made of the size of airway at two distances from theuvula to the posterior wall of the nasopharynx and from the base of thetongue to the posterior wall of the oropharynx. The CPU 20 may comparethe measurements to norms for normal and abnormal amounts and mayindicate if the airway may be normal or abnormal. The CPU 20 may accessinformation in the database 55 to determine whether to treat and/or thereason or reasons to treat. The CPU 20 may perform standardcephalometric analyses as the professional desires. Such analyses mayinclude the Northwestern Reidel, Downs, Steiner, Sassouni, Harvold,Wits, Rickets, McNamara and/or the like.

The overbite and overjet may be measured, and treatment may berecommended according to information from the database 55. In anembodiment, the CPU 20 may compare the obtained measurements withinformation in the database 55. For example, FIGS. 17 and 18 illustrateinformation related to overbite. Further, FIGS. 19-21 illustrateinformation related to crowding, overbite and overjet, respectively. Theadenoid tissue may be examined for swelling. If the adenoid tissue maybe significantly swollen, the patient may be referred to a specialistfor surgical removal.

The professional may estimate if the upper canine angulation may benormal or abnormal. If the angulation may be excessively abnormal, theprofessional may recommend a fixed orthodontic appliance treatmentprocedure. The presence of other impactions not correctable with the useof a bumper may require an orthodontist and/or fixed treatment.

The professional may estimate the skeletal age of the patient which maybe used rather than the chronological age of the patient. The use of theskeletal age may yield greater accuracy when using information from thedatabase 55. Any recommended interceptive treatment that may be within ayear prior to the beginning of the pubertal growth spurt should bedelayed to the start of the spurt. The information may provide overbiteand overjet timing that may yield successful treatment with minimalrelapse due to lack of vertical or horizontal growth from six years ofage to eighteen years of age.

Suspected sleep problems for patients of twelve years of age to eighteenyears of age may result from suspected swollen tonsils and/or adenoids.Abnormal swelling may be referred to a pediatrician. If the patientsnores three nights per week to seven nights per week, the patient maywear the Ortho-T® appliance to keep the mandible and the tongue fromdrifting posteriorly while sleeping. Any patient suspected of havingapnea or hypopnea may have a home night sleep study or referred to asleep specialist.

If the patient may be mouth breather, the professional may check if thepatient may easily breathe through the nose. If in question, theprofessional may refer the patient to a pediatrician for a breathinganalysis and/or the home night sleep study. If the patient has adeviated septum, polyps and/or the like, the professional may refer thepatient to the ENT specialist. If the patient may easily breathe throughthe nose, the professional may issue the patient the Ortho-T® appliancefor night use and two hours of daily use if the patient may be a daytimemouth breather. Narrowed upper arch widths may be analyzed. A rapidpalatal expander may not be used or may be used with daily checks onexpansion any time after end of the pubertal spurt or even one yearprior to the end of the spurt as shown in FIGS. 7-9.

The profile of the patient may be oriented on the profile templateanalysis shown in FIG. 10 with the appropriate template according to theN-Me distance of the patient. The areas of the profile that may beabnormal, such as recessive lips, protrusive nose, receding chin, longvertical face, short upper lip, long chin and the like may allow them tofall outside of template margins. The normal profile characteristics maybe kept within the template margins, such as the forehead and the upperpart of the nose. The CPU 20 may provide a visual tracing of the profileof the patient within the template that shows what ideally may becorrected. The proper treatment, such as advancement of the mandible,retraction of protrusive teeth, lengthening of the face and/or the likemay be recommended. The treatments may be watched with a subsequentprofile check on the template to verify if the treatment goals may beachieved.

The professional may determine the skeletal age of the patient and mayuse the chronological age of the patient. The CPU 20 may calculate thepredicted height of the patient using information the database 55 andmay predict the growth in height expected each year from theinformation. Percentage increases in height may be used for eachfollowing year. The percentage multiplied by the predicted height maygive the height increase for each year until maturity.

Further, the CPU 20 may provide pictures that may represent the problemand/or how the problem may appear in the future if nothing may be doneto correct the problem. The pictures may be printed with pictures of thepatient and may be issued to the parent with the final letter to theparent with data similar to FIG. 6.

The CPU 20 may compare the initial diagnosis for treatment and/or mayindicate if any problems from the final records assessment. Thecomparison may indicate that treatment with a bumper and theOcclus-o-Guide® appliance may be ineffective due to multiple missingteeth, improper angulation of upper canines, impacted teeth and/or thelike. If so, the professional may refuse treatment and may recommend afixed orthodontic appliance treatment procedure.

As shown in FIG. 2, step 150 illustrates Program E of the method 100.Program E may be designed for patients ranging from eighteen years ofage to adulthood. Program E may be configured to relate to the dentitionand/or oral development of patients in this range. In particular,patients in this age range may have mature permanent dentition. Thus,Program E may correlate the initial assessment and/or examinations ofthe patient to the specific age of the patient. The correlated initialassessment may focus the initial assessment on the current state ofdevelopment of the patient. Certain assessments may not be indicated forthe age range in Program E. However, other assessments may be criticalat the current state of development of the patient. To this end, ProgramE may be performed as set forth hereinafter.

The system 10 and/or the method 100 may have the initial examinationand/or assessment. The full records assessment may also be required. Thepatient may undergo the initial examination by the professional. Thesystem 10 and/or the method 100 may generate the preliminary and/orinitial assessment and/or diagnosis based upon the initial examinationof the patient. The system 10 and/or the method 100 may provide such anassessment and/or diagnosis prior to the full records assessment.

In an embodiment, any one of the following problems may be require atreatment recommendation and/or the full records assessment shown instep 155 of FIG. 2. The problems may be as follows:

-   -   1. Crowding/spacing in which a lower arch and an upper arch        length analysis may be performed to determine whether the        patient may be a candidate for treatment. Other problems, such        as, for example, displaced teeth with space shortage, missing        teeth and various other problems may be examined and noted by        the professional.    -   2. Overbite greater than 1.25 mm and/or an open bite of any        severity    -   3. Overjet greater than 1.25 mm) and/or a Class III relation of        any severity including zero mm which may be an end-to-end or        pseudo Class III relation    -   4. Cross-bites of any severity    -   5. TMJ having any two symptoms except for limited opening    -   6. Habits such as, for example, thumb sucking, swallowing,        speech problems and/or mouth breathing    -   7. Suspected sleep-disordered breathing problems    -   8. Narrow upper arch

The system 10 and/or the method 100 CPU 20 may generate the document forthe patient. The document may summarize whether any of the above eightitems may be problems that may be considered beyond normal. The documentmay also explain why the full records assessment and/or probabletreatment may be recommended. The document may contain the treatmenttime required, the patient responsibility, any fee involved,probabilities of success, any possible relapse and pictures what theteeth may look like without performing any treatment.

The CPU 20 may generate and/or print the document as shown in FIG. 6.The document may be provided to the parent of the patient with findingsfor the parent to consider and/or study. This document may be generatedafter the initial examination.

The professional may examine the patient and may enter the informationusing the UI 30. The information may display on the monitor 35. Forexample, the examination may determine which teeth may be present andmay be indicated on the dentition chart 205. The same examination thatmay have been performed in Program D for the patient of twelve years ofage to eighteen years of age may be done.

The professional may examine the patient and to classify the molars andmay indicate the class on the dentition chart 205. The examination maydetermine whether the midline may be off. Further, the examination maydetermine whether the patient may have posterior spacing more than twomm.

Any lower crowding may be determined by an arch length analysis of thelower arch. The sum of the widths of the four or six lower front teethmay equal the required space. The available space may be thecircumference around the lower arch along the incisal edges of the lowerfour anterior teeth or six anterior teeth. The distance either from themesial of one canine to the other canine for an arch length analysis ofonly the incisors, or if the canines may be included, the distance maybe from the distal of one canine to the distal of the other canine. Ifthe crowding may be only in the incisal area, the shorter distance maybe used between the canines. If the canines may be also crowded, thearch length analysis would include the canines. In either case themeasurement may be the available space of the lower arch.

The required space may be subtracted from the available space to obtainthe shortage, excess or normal arch. The crowding or spacing may becompared to information from the database 55 depending on the age of thepatient. The information may be presented to the patient or the parentof the patient.

The upper arch length analysis may be done in the same way. Treatmentfor any arch shortage in the upper arch that may be one half mm may beoptionally recommended while crowding of one mm or more may berecommended for a patient from twelve years of age to eighteen years ofage. The treatment possibilities for crowding and spacing for the upperarch and/or the lower arch may be provided in the information in thedatabase 55.

An analysis may be performed to determine if the upper incisors and thelower incisors may be coordinated to produce an ideal incisal occlusionas in Program C. If the coordination ratio indicates one arch may bedifferent from the other, such as the upper may be smaller due tosmaller upper laterals, the width estimate of the laterals may beobtained from the information in the database 55. A composite may beadded to the smaller laterals to make the laterals a normal size.

Further, anterior spacing may be corrected. If there may be no overjetor a minimum overjet of up to two mm or three mm, the patient mayrequire some bonding. If there may be an overjet of four mm or more, thespaces may typically be closed by using the Ortho-T® appliance.

Overbites that may be successfully corrected from eighteen years of ageonward into adulthood may not depend on vertical facial growth sincethere may be no growth remaining. Overbites of about four mm may becorrected, but about fifty per cent may relapse. However, correction maybe recommended if there may be a TMJ problem. Therefore, if a patienthas an overbite problem that may exceed four mm or five mm, the patientmay be informed that the overbite may not successfully correct and/ormay relapse. Overjet may have the same restrictions as overbite and mayexperience the same relapse as the overbite.

Open-bites and Class III malocclusions may be contraindicated and maynot be recommended for this form of treatment and may be referred forfixed orthodontics or surgery. Fixed orthodontics may involve reversehead-gear or extraction of a lower incisor or premolars. Mandibularset-back surgery in Class III cases exceeding three mm may berecommended. Open-bites treated orthodontically may be a problem and mayinvolve myofunctional therapy which may result in significant open-biteclosure prior to any start of fixed orthodontics and/or surgicalcorrection.

TMJ problems may be minimized with mandibular advancement and/oroverbite reduction and may also involve posterior teeth eruption. Ifthis eruption does not take place within two years, forceful eruptionwith fixed appliances may be required. Lifetime retention may berequired, such as nighttime wear one night per week with the sameOrtho-T® appliance used for correction.

Habits such as thumb sucking may be corrected, often with a few sessionsof a fixed anti-sucking device. Mouth breathing may also be helped,particularly at younger ages. Swallowing habits may be most difficultand may be a contraindication at these late ages.

Sleep-disordered breathing may be strongly associated with apnea,hypopnea, and snoring. The patient may require a night-home sleep study.If apnea and hypopnea may be ruled out, a cephalometric analysis may berecommended.

Narrowed upper arch widths may be analyzed. Upper arches that may beexcessively narrow that may exceed the abnormal limits may beaccompanied by breathing problems. If the patient may be a mouthbreather and/or has difficulty breathing through the nose, treatment maybe recommended. However, rapid palatal expansion should not be used atthis age.

The CPU 20 may provide the document to the parent summarizing thefindings in the initial examination similar to the data presentation ofFIG. 6. The patient may require the full records assessment with thethree x-ray films to verify if treatment may be recommended.

In an embodiment, the system 10 and/or the method 100 may also encompassthe full records assessment of Program E as shown in step 155 of FIG. 2.As part of the full records assessment, the professional may take x-raysof the patient. For example, the x-rays may contain a digital panoramicx-ray film of the patient, a lateral digital cephalometric x-ray film,and/or one 3-D x-ray film. The 3-D x-ray film may be preferred sincedetails may be clearer to see in such an x-ray. The imaging in the fullrecords assessment may contain intra-oral and/or facial photographs. Theprofessional may analyze the panoramic film and/or the 3-D film, ifavailable, as part of the full records assessment. The panoramic filmand/or the 3-D film may be analyzed by the system 10 and/or the method100. For example, the CPU 20 may analyze the panoramic film and/or the3-D film to ensure that all unerupted teeth may be present. Theprofessional may also perform this review. If any permanent teeth may bemissing, the missing teeth may be charted. The relative placement of thedentition may be organized on the dentition chart 205 as shown on FIG.4. The erupted teeth may be indicated on the dentition chart 205.

The professional may perform an oral examination of the patient as partof the full records assessment. The oral examination may be the same asdescribed in Program D. An appliance may be recommended for the patient.The size of the appliance may be calculated by the CPU 20 by accessinginformation in the database 55. The system 10 may also provide thedocument that may explain the initial data as well as any data learnedfrom the x-ray records.

In an embodiment, an orthodontist may use the system 10. The CPU 20 maybe programmed to correspond to his or her own preferences. For example,the orthodontist may indicate desired treatment parameters, such as atreatment range for overbite, overjet and crowding. The system 10 mayprovide data to the orthodontist for his or her personal treatmentphilosophy, such as when to extract teeth to provide space and when toexpand the arches and/or the like. Also, various treatmentpossibilities, such as extraction of premolars, incisors, molars, Herbstappliance, Twin-Block, rapid palatal expander, quad-helix, Damontechnique, Frankel, Bionator, Activator and the like may be programmedinto the CPU 20. The orthodontist may indicate the severity andconditions under which such appliances may be recommended and/or used.

The CPU 20 may categorize results based upon recommendations that may behelpful and/or time saving for the orthodontist. Such treatmentparameters may be programmed for each age group that the orthodontistmay treat, such as the three age ranges, namely: a) mixed dentition forpatients of eight years old to twelve years old, b) the early adultdentition for patients of twelve years old to eighteen years old and c)the late adult dentition. The orthodontist may also be interested inearly deciduous dentition and transitional dentition.

In particular, the orthodontist may indicate which treatmentpossibilities may be important for correction for patients with mixeddentition, such as, crowding and/or spacing, overbite and/or open bite,overjet and/or Class III relation, cross-bites, TMJ disturbances, habitssuch as thumb sucking, swallowing, mouth breathing, speech problems,suspected sleep disordered breathing, narrow upper arch, canineimpactions and/or other impactions, multiple missing teeth and/orankylosed teeth, erratic eruption of posteriors and/or the like.

Further, embodiments of the system 10 and/or the method 100 may provideinformation and/or data to estimate sizes of appliances that are gaugedon sizes of the dentition and/or the arches. Appliances available fromany manufacturer may be estimated using the system 10 and/or the method100. Moreover, various types of appliances may be fabricated from thedata obtained by the system 10 and/or the method 100. The appliances maybe fabricated using stereo lithography and/or other methods.

Also, embodiments of the system 10 and/or the method 100 may provideinformation and/or data to recommend sizes of bands to cement onto theteeth of the patient. The system 10 and/or the method 100 may provideinformation and/or data to determine proper angulations of brackets forthe teeth of the patient. Moreover, embodiments of the system 10 and/orthe method 100 may provide information and/or data to determine theskeletal age of the patient from the hand x-ray film and to predictfuture growth and/or to predict the timing of growth spurts.

Moreover, the present invention is not limited to the specificarrangement of the components illustrated in the figures. It should beunderstood that various changes and modifications to the presentlypreferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those havingordinary skill in the art. Such changes and modifications may be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention andwithout diminishing its attendant advantages. It is, therefore, intendedthat such changes and modifications be covered by the appended claims.

I claim:
 1. A method comprising: locating points in a mouth of a patientwith an imaging device wherein the imaging device locates the points andgenerates imagine data of the points in the mouth; transferring theimaging data to a central processing unit wherein the central processingunit has access to a database having information associated withorthodontic conditions; obtaining measurements associated with selectedpoints and dentition in the mouth of the patient wherein the centralprocessing unit generates the measurements using the imaging data;measuring a width of the arch from an upper canine cusp to an oppositeupper canine cusp and from a lower canine cusp to an opposite lowercanine cusp and multiplying the width by separate factors to indicate aproper distance along a curve that the dentition may occupy; predictingorthodontic conditions of the patient based upon the measurements andthe information in the database wherein the central processing unitprovides predictions based on the imaging data and the information inthe database; and recommending treatments to the patient based upon thepredicted orthodontic conditions wherein the central processing unitprovides recommendations based on the imaging data and the informationin the database.
 2. The method of claim 1 further comprising: measuringthe dentition in the mouth of the patient.
 3. The method of claim 1further comprising: creating a digitized model of the dentition of thepatient using the imaging device and the central processing unit.
 4. Themethod of claim 3 further comprising: creating digitized images ofvarious sizes of appliances for treatment and fitting the images of theappliances over the digitized model of the dentition of the patient totest fit the appliance for the patient.
 5. The method of claim 1 furthercomprising: measuring a tooth using the central processing unit todetermine a size of an appliance for treatment of the patient whereinthe size of the appliance is determined from the size of the tooth. 6.The method of claim 1 further comprising: providing images indicative ofa future malocclusion to the patient if no treatment is initiated. 7.The method of claim 1 further comprising: measuring a level of a gumline on lower front teeth to determine gingival recession.
 8. The methodof claim 1 further comprising: determining a color of gums in the mouthof the patient.
 9. The method of claim 1 further comprising: determininga dimension of at least one of a size of the nose, a shortness of theface, a jaw recession or a jaw protrusion of the upper jaw or the lowerjaw from a profile picture of the patient to compare the dimension to atemplate of a standardized face and to recommend treatment based uponthe comparison.
 10. The method of claim 1 further comprising: predictingfuture amounts of symptoms to determine if an abnormal symptom mayself-correct, remain constant or increase in severity by a certain age.11. The method of claim 1 further comprising: programming the centralprocessing unit to correspond to a particular treatment philosophy of auser.
 12. The method of claim 1 further comprising: providinginformation associated with adverse effects of an untreated condition tothe patient.
 13. The method of claim 1 further comprising: determiningthe available space for teeth to align within the mouth of the patientusing the central processing unit.
 14. The method of claim 1 furthercomprising: measuring a curve of an arch in which the adult teeth willerupt into using the central processing unit and adjusting themeasurement based upon statistical data for expected expansion todetermine available space.
 15. The method of claim 1 further comprising:predicting width of the dentition prior to emergence into the mouth. 16.The method of claim 1 further comprising: predicting widths of unerupteddentition by measuring a tooth with predictive characteristics.
 17. Themethod of claim 1 further comprising: multiplying widths of teeth byvarious multiplication factors to obtain widths of other teeth in themouth to have a proper occlusion.
 18. The method of claim 1 furthercomprising: examining an image of the patient using the centralprocessing unit to determine if an upper permanent lateral incisor issmaller than normal size.
 19. The method of claim 1 further comprising:identifying missing teeth or oversized teeth using the imaging deviceand the central processing unit.
 20. The method of claim 1 furthercomprising: measuring a gummy smile using the imaging device and thecentral processing unit to predict whether correction is possible basedupon whether the patient has erupted upper adult incisors.
 21. Themethod of claim 1 further comprising: measuring open bite verticallyfrom a top of incisal edges of an upper central incisor and a lowercentral incisor to make a treatment recommendation.
 22. The method ofclaim 1 further comprising: measuring a Class III condition from a topof an incisal edge of a lower incisor to a front surface of an uppercentral incisor horizontally parallel to the occlusal plane to make atreatment recommendation.
 23. The method of claim 1 further comprising:measuring a freeway space from a point on a tip of a nose to a bottom ofa chin of the patient to make a treatment recommendation.
 24. The methodof claim 1 further comprising: identifying various landmarks on an imageof the patient using the central processing unit.
 25. The method ofclaim 1 further comprising: identifying dimensions of a nasopharynx andan oropharynx of the patient.
 26. The method of claim 1 furthercomprising: identifying unerupted teeth in an x-ray film to determine ifthe unerupted teeth are positioned to erupt into the mouth.
 27. Themethod of claim 1 further comprising: measuring a sound of atemporomandibular joint of the patient.
 28. The method of claim 1further comprising: measuring a maximum opening of the mouth of thepatient; and comparing the measurement to an accepted amount to providea treatment recommendation.
 29. The method of claim 1 furthercomprising: making an audio recording of dentition contact duringclosing of the mouth to determine occlusion of the patient.
 30. Themethod of claim 1 further comprising: programming the central processingunit to correspond to particular treatment parameters of anorthodontist.
 31. The method of claim 1 further comprising: providingdata from the central processing unit to an orthodontist associated witha treatment philosophy of the orthodontist.
 32. The method of claim 1further comprising: providing data from the central processing unit toestimate sizes of appliances wherein the appliances are gauged on sizesof the dentition.
 33. The method of claim 1 further comprising:providing data from the central processing unit to fabricate anappliance for the patient.
 34. The method of claim 1 further comprising:providing data from the central processing unit to recommend sizes ofbands to cement onto the dentition of the patient.
 35. The method ofclaim 1 further comprising: providing data from the central processingunit to determine angulations of a bracket for the dentition of thepatient.
 36. The method of claim 1 further comprising: providing datafrom the central processing unit to determine a skeletal age of thepatient from a hand x-ray film and to predict future growth of thepatient.
 37. A method comprising: locating points in a mouth of apatient with an imaging device wherein the imaging device locates thepoints and generates imaging data of the points in the mouth;transferring the imaging data to a central processing unit wherein thecentral processing unit has access to a database having informationassociated with orthodontic conditions; obtaining measurementsassociated with selected points and dentition in the mouth of thepatient wherein the central processing unit generates the measurementsusing the imaging data; assessing overbite using the computer bylocating a point at an incisal edge of an upper central incisor and alower central incisor; measuring a vertical distance with the upper jawand the lower jaw in a closed position; comparing the overbite to anaccepted amount to provide a treatment recommendation; predictingorthodontic conditions of the patient based upon the measurements andthe information in the database wherein the central processing unitprovides predictions based on the imaging data and the information inthe database; and recommending treatments to the patient based upon thepredicted orthodontic conditions wherein the central processing unitprovides recommendations based on the imaging data and the informationin the database.
 38. A method comprising: locating points in a mouth ofa patient with an imaging device wherein the imaging device locates thepoints and generates imaging data of the points in the mouth;transferring the imaging data to a central processing unit wherein thecentral processing unit has access to a database having informationassociated with orthodontic conditions; obtaining measurementsassociated with selected points and dentition in the mouth of thepatient wherein the central processing unit generates the measurementsusing the imaging data; measuring overjet from a top point on an incisaledge of an upper central incisor to where a line that is parallel to anocclusal plane touches the labial surface of a lower central incisor;comparing the overjet to an accepted amount to provide a treatmentrecommendation; predicting orthodontic conditions of the patient basedupon the measurements and the information in the database wherein thecentral processing unit provides predictions based on the imaging dataand the information in the database; and recommending treatments to thepatient based upon the predicted orthodontic conditions wherein thecentral processing unit provides recommendations based on the imagingdata and the information in the database.